Beijing police reported an eight-year low in crime figures for the Olympic Games period thanks to tight security measures.

Crime figures reported between Aug. 8 and 24 were "the lowest" compared with the same periods in the past eight years, the police said on Wednesday.

The police declined to give figures, but said the numbers of serious cases such as murder, robbery and rape all fell.

A total of 482 suspects, including 40 foreigners, were seized during the period for alleged involvement in robbery, mugging or theft.

But no such cases were reported in the Olympic venues like stadiums, media centers, and designated hotels and hospitals, largely due to tight security checks and massive patrols in those areas. About 35,000 policemen were on patrol duty daily.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2008)