National lawmakers are working to improve
legislation on penalties relating to public security to better
protect individuals' rights and check the power of police
officers.
Members of the Standing Committee of the 10th
National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislative
body, conducted a preliminary review of the draft law on
Monday.
Penalties in the public security domain are
currently governed by a regulation that was passed by the Standing
Committee of the 6th NPC in 1986 and partially revised in 1994.
"With constant economic and social development and
the emergence of new problems over the past 18 years, the
regulation barely meets the requirements of public security
management today," said Tian Qiyu, vice-minister of public
security.
Tian said the draft law would add more punishable
public order violations to reflect these changes.
Under the draft law, disturbing neighbors with
unreasonable noise or by other means would be fined up to 500 yuan
(US$60) if violators persist.
Pet owners will be warned if their animals disturb
others and owners who encourage their animals to frighten and hurt
others may be detained for up to ten days and fined up to 1,000
yuan (US$121).
The draft law also covers the crime of disturbing
public order by using fake dangerous substances, such as claiming
that innocuous white powder is deadly anthrax.
It will also crack down on acts of football
hooliganism, including attacks on players or referees.
Offenders would also gain the right to sue public
security authorities or ask for an administrative review if they
disagree with police officers’ actions.
"The draft law was designed to be well connected
with other laws such as the Criminal Code and the Law on
Administrative Penalty for the consolidation of the legal system,"
Tian said.?
(China Daily October 26, 2004)