Shenzhen's buses will be equipped with digital cameras, according to a meeting of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress yesterday.

Digital cameras will also be installed in busy bus stations. Taxis will adopt an upgraded GPS system, which will also record and transmit passengers' images.

More than 30,000 cameras will be installed on the city's 12,000 buses and minibuses.

The new devices are expected to prevent crimes in public transport, according to Shenzhen's public security bureau.

"We receive an average of 30 reports of theft and robbery on buses each day. Buses and taxis have become crime-infested places. We hope the cameras can help stamp out on-ride crimes and create a safe public environment," said a spokesman with Shenzhen police.

The city is going to establish a fund to reward those who fight crimes on buses. The police are also setting up a team of informers, which includes at least 1,000 bus drivers.

(Shenzhen Daily December 7, 2005)