Letting the public know about a potential danger is better than keeping them in dark, says an article in Oriental Morning Post. The following is an excerpt:

Police in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, reported to the public that about 12 motorcyclists were robbed, some were injured, and warned all to take care.

The Beihai police force has set a precedent - normally criminal cases are not publicized until the culprits are arrested.

This practice was introduced for two reasons: to keep suspects unaware police are on their trail, and to protect the public from panicking.

This is true to some extent, but sometimes it can be ignored, as the police in Beihai have done.

In a society where information spreads quickly, it is almost impossible to keep the public in dark about a criminal case. The public might not get all the facts, leading to rumors or a disturbance.

A public announcement by the police could help prevent this from happening.

Most people would be more vigilant against crime. They might even report suspicious people to the police.

In the Beihai case it helped to protect the public rather than instil fear.

The Beihai police force won the support of the public, as well as their right to know. Hopefully, others will follow suit.

(China Daily December 14, 2007)