This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7795415.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| China plans new anti-gang effort | China plans new anti-gang effort |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| China plans to launch a special campaign to combat mafia-style gangs, according to a state newspaper. | China plans to launch a special campaign to combat mafia-style gangs, according to a state newspaper. |
| As well tackling drug trafficking and prostitution, the campaign will target crimes caused by rising unemployment, the China Daily newspaper reports. | As well tackling drug trafficking and prostitution, the campaign will target crimes caused by rising unemployment, the China Daily newspaper reports. |
| The paper says police will also focus on rooting out corrupt government officials who shelter gangsters. | The paper says police will also focus on rooting out corrupt government officials who shelter gangsters. |
| Analysts say China's economic downturn may lead to higher crime rates as thousands of people face unemployment. | Analysts say China's economic downturn may lead to higher crime rates as thousands of people face unemployment. |
| 'Threat to stability' | 'Threat to stability' |
| Organised crime is on the rise in China, and courts across the country saw a 160% annual increase in gang-related crime in 2007. | Organised crime is on the rise in China, and courts across the country saw a 160% annual increase in gang-related crime in 2007. |
| "Gang-related crimes have become a threat to our social stability and the economy," one un-named official from the Public Security Bureau told the China Daily. | "Gang-related crimes have become a threat to our social stability and the economy," one un-named official from the Public Security Bureau told the China Daily. |
| "Murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, assault... they dare do anything," the official said. | "Murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, assault... they dare do anything," the official said. |
| He said the construction, transport and mining sectors were all areas that attracted gang crime, but warned that other industries were also increasingly being affected. | He said the construction, transport and mining sectors were all areas that attracted gang crime, but warned that other industries were also increasingly being affected. |
| With the economic downturn, Chinese authorities are worried that the problem will get even worse, and the new campaign aims to make sure this does not happen. | With the economic downturn, Chinese authorities are worried that the problem will get even worse, and the new campaign aims to make sure this does not happen. |
| The official said the authorities would "keep a close eye" on crime resulting from the slowing economy. | The official said the authorities would "keep a close eye" on crime resulting from the slowing economy. |
| Migrant workers are the backbone of China's economic success, and these farmers-turned-factory workers have been the first to feel the effects of the economic slowdown. | Migrant workers are the backbone of China's economic success, and these farmers-turned-factory workers have been the first to feel the effects of the economic slowdown. |
| To make matters worse, more than six million students will try to enter China's workforce during 2009, half a million more than last year. | To make matters worse, more than six million students will try to enter China's workforce during 2009, half a million more than last year. |
| As many as 10 million people are expected to lose their jobs, and thousands of factories have already closed, says the BBC correspondent in Beijing, Quentin Sommerville. | As many as 10 million people are expected to lose their jobs, and thousands of factories have already closed, says the BBC correspondent in Beijing, Quentin Sommerville. |
| The government is expecting trouble during 2009, and China's huge security apparatus is signalling it is prepared to crackdown on anything that disrupts social stability, our correspondent says. |