Cui said as soon as he returns to Guizhou, he will sign pledges with each county bureau police chief to ensure they promise there will not be any mafia-style gangs in their jurisdiction.

At the same time, governments must learn from the 2008 riot to take timely action on public complaints, Cui said. "The riot brewed for seven days, but the sentiments of the public had accumulated for seven years."

He said Weng'an had witnessed rapid economic growth in the past few years, but the county's public security had worsened, with a rising number of complaints from local residents.

"Governments cannot care only about the economy. Public sentiments cannot be ignored. Small disputes must be handled in time."

According to Cui, local governments should improve their capability to handle emergencies and to timely release information. "With the rapid development of the Internet, it is very important to release official information in a timely manner," he said.

Guizhou police has decided to set up a 3,000-member patrol team to handle emergencies across the province, Cui said.

So far, the team has recruited 1,000 officers, who are in training and will begin duty this May.