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By Meng Yan (China
Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-25
21:57
National lawmakers
are working to improve legislation on penalties related 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 legislature, Monday conducted a preliminary
review of a draft law on penalties related to public security.
Penalties in the
public security domain are currently governed by a regulation
which 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 had added more activities that violate public security and
should be punished in order to reflect changes.
Under the draft
law, making noises or disturbing neighbours by other means
should be fined up to 500 yuan (US$60) if the violators refuse
to stop doing so.
Pet owners will be
warned if their animals disturb others and the owners who
encourage their animals to frighten and hurt others may be detained
for up to ten days and be 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, such as attacks on the
players or the match referee.
The draft law also
offers offenders the rights to choose to sue the public security
authorities or ask for the higher public security office for an administrative
review when they refuse to comply
with the decision of the police officers.
"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.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/25/content_385555.htm
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