Beijing police now do blogging, podcasts

BEIJING - Police in the Chinese capital will now offer interactive services through blogs and podcasts in a country where the number of internet users is multiplying.

The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau officially launched its new media services at the news portals sina.com, sohu.com and 163.com and video-sharing site ku6.com, in a move that would enhance transparency in the police department’s relations with the common people, Xinhua reported.

The services - termed “Safe Beijing” - offers a new form of communication between police and the general public, as the internet has increasingly become a quick and popular source of news and information for more Chinese citizens.

Fu Zhenghua, head of the bureau, said law enforcement activities were hot topics in the media in this highly open and transparent internet era.

“With the aid of modern technology, we hope to communicate with people and vulnerable groups with frankness and sincerity, as well as promote social justice,” Fu said.

In the first blog post, the bureau pledged to offer the latest police news, anti-fraud tips and stories of model community police.

The bureau has posted dozens of anti-fraud and anti-theft tips and police news, including stories about model police officers.

Over 17,600 people logged on to the blog service Sunday and some posts received hundreds of comments.

Most citizens welcomed the services, saying it would bridge the gap between police and common people and change the traditionally mysterious and superior image of police officers.

“This is really a good thing. Let’s applaud the social progress and gradual government openness,” said netizen Tongtianniu.

“Welcome! It is badly needed to face directly to public opinion now,” said another netizen named Lijiazhufu.

Some netizens, however, said the services were “too official” and asked police to use simpler words and sentences in the blog posts.

Liu Dawei, head of the bureau’s new public relations department, said police would accept netizens’ suggestions in a sincere and open-minded way.

“We will strive to build a bridge of interaction and equal communication,” Liu said.

“The microblog can be used as a good way to solicit public opinion. For a public security department, I believe it can help solve criminal cases by widely obtaining clues from the public,” said Huang Qiliang, a translator with a global organisation.

Wang Dawei, a professor at the Chinese People’s Public Security University, said with the new services, police have made a positive shift from passive actions to taking the initiative.