The Public Security Bureau of central China's Hubei Province has made a decision that its men will be allowed to shoot dead armed gangs who are robbing banks.
Chen Xunqun, director of the bureau as well as a memeber of Hubei Provincial Communist Party Committee's Standing Committee, gave the order on Monday during a live police maneuver in Wuhan, capital of the province.
"Police can shoot to death armed robbers who are carrying out their action of bank robbery," Chen was quoted by the China News Service on Tuesday as he briefed a large squad of policemen.
The order comes as China's financial institutions have reported an increasing cases of armed robbery. Just days ago, a four-strong armed men broke into a local bank in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, killing one security guard and made away with 1.8 million yuan(US$216,000) bank notes.
In another case, a five-men armed gangs robbed a local Agriculture Bank outlet in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, killing three and fleeing with 600,000 yuan.
Chen also instructed his men and the militia to intensify training efforts in order to improve their skills.
He ordered a safety inspection of the finance sector across the province immediately.
(chinadaily.com.cn 12/12/2000)
