A total of 2,000 armed police took to the streets of Shenzhen on Wednesday to reinforce patrols targeting street crime in the biggest crackdown on crime in the city's history.

Of the total, 1,000 are from Guangzhou with 650 for Bao'an District and another 350 for Longgang District, two areas where crime is regarded as serious. The forces will remain in the city until next February.

Another 1,000 Shenzhen armed police began patrolling in different districts, with 200 in Longgang and Nanshan each, and 300 in Luohu and Futian each.

In addition, 1,000 retired armed police will join the security guard squads in Longgang and Bao'an next month to patrol the streets.

Shenzhen would try to improve the crime situation before the end of year, Guan Lingen, vice director general of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, told a press conference Tuesday.

District governments allocated special funds to be used as rewards. The Longgang District Government promised to pay a reward of 2,000 yuan (US$240) for the capture of a street mugger and a minimum of 500 yuan (US$60) for a thief. Futian allocated 25 million yuan (US$3 million) to add 2,000 security guards to its present force.

Shenzhen began to deploy 10,000 policemen on street patrols Sunday. This has been welcomed by residents who claim they feel safer on the streets.

(Shenzhen Daily November 6, 2003)