China

Ministry of Public Security China

Responsible for public security, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is part of the State Council, China’s chief administrative body and principal police and security authority.

Law enforcement services in China are provided by Public Security Bureaus, the provincial and municipal public security counterparts which, under the leadership of local government, operate in the main towns, cities and counties of China.

Mission:

• Crime prevention, suppression and investigation;
• Ensuring law and order;
• Prevention of extremism, violence and terrorism;
• Maintaining state security;
• Administrative registration duties (identification documents, birth certificates, exit-and-entry permits, stay and travel permits for visitors to China);
• Riot and public demonstration control;
• Public information network security.

MPS is made up of several agencies which deal with operational and administrative aspects of national policing. Essential operational agencies include:

• National Security;
• Economic Crime Investigation;
• Border Control;
• Criminal Investigation;
• Fire Control;
• Prison Security;
• Traffic Control;
• International Police Cooperation;
• Drug Control;
• Counter-terrorism. 

INTERPOL Beijing

The INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) for China sits structurally within the International Police Cooperation Department of MPS. The head of INTERPOL Beijing is an MPS vice minister.

INTERPOL Beijing has two sub bureaus, each with delegated regional authority in the following special administrative regions of China:

• Hong Kong;
• Macao.

Serving as the national point of contact for all INTERPOL matters which relate to China, INTERPOL Beijing responsibilities include:

• Liaising and coordinating with INTERPOL partners across the world;  
• Coordinating international crime investigation and legal assistance matters;
• Serving as the exclusive interface between Chinese police agencies, courts and domestic law enforcement departments and the INTERPOL community;
• Serving as a gateway for incoming and outgoing INTERPOL queries;
• Conducting transnational enquires and investigations using INTERPOL's secure global police communications system (I-24/7);
• Providing training for domestic law enforcement agencies on international police cooperation;
• Providing criminal intelligence support at both domestic and international level;
• Assisting and cooperating in cross-border fugitives operations;
• Liaising with China’s Sub-Bureaus in Hong Kong and Macao;
• Ensuring that Chinese police at all levels and locations have access to INTERPOL's databases over I-24/7, thus boosting national security;  
• Gathering and exchanging information in an effort to enforce public or criminal laws (Mutual Legal Assistance) and to assist in extraditions.

National focus

Chinese police forces have put a lot of energy into tackling traditional and non-traditional crime. By strengthening legislation, adopting comprehensive public order management policies and increasing law enforcement training, China intends to enhance its country’s ability to prevent and fight crime more effectively, thus safeguarding social stability. Chinese authorities fully recognize the vital role INTERPOL plays in tackling international crime in all its forms, through the effective cooperation of police forces around the world.