Chinese authorities Wednesday called for a crackdown on gang crimes, especially those that bully and oppress ordinary people in rural areas and illegally collect debts, and those involved in pornography, gambling and drug abuse.

According to a national conference on gang crimes, the country's social security situation is still "complex," with an increasing number of crimes being committed by mafia-like gangs.

It said efforts should be made to maintain a severe crackdown on such crimes.

The conference, presided over by Vice Public Security Minister Zhang Xinfeng, was attended by several central government department officials.

Gangs in sectors with high profits and those eroding state resources should be severely cracked down upon, the conference said.

A talent pool will be established and excellent police investigators and specialists will be selected to crack down on gang crimes.

More than 450 gang crime cases were investigated last year, statistics show.