Chinese police are no longer allowed to shackle drunks or to take children, elderly, pregnant women or breast-feeding mothers involved in non-criminal cases into custody.

 

The Ministry of Public Security recently published the revised Regulations on the Procedure of Handling Administrative Cases by Police Departments.

 

Under the Regulations, police can use belts instead of handcuffs to control drunks who cause a public disturbance. Drunks should not be shackled when being questioned, particularly not after they have sobered up.

 

People between the ages of 14 and 18 who are charged with violating public security regulations for the first time, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding infants, and elderly people 70 and older can not be detained for minor offences.

 

Children 14 and 16 should be exempted from administrative punishment, but their guardians will be ordered to better supervise them. Punishment for those between 14 and 18 could be reduced.

 

According to the revised Regulations, once the suspects are issued a summons, police should inform their family of the charges by phone, short message (SMS) or fax as soon as possible.

 

The revised regulations went into force on August 24.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)