Shenzhen police have offered a reward of up to 20,000 yuan (US$2,597.40) for information related to illegal possession of guns, ammunition and explosives, in an effort to crack down on gun crimes.

People who provide tips on the illegal sale and manufacturing of mock handguns will receive a reward of 1,000 yuan, said Qian Wei, vice director general of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, at a conference Friday. Those reporting people who possess guns illegally will receive a reward of 3,000 yuan and those reporting the trafficking, manufacturing and sale of guns will get a reward of 10,000 yuan. Those reporting gun-related crimes with receive 20,000 yuan.

Chinese laws prohibit the illegal possession, production and trade of explosives and firearms of all kinds including sporting guns, small-bore rifles and handguns.

Shenzhen's crime rate has dropped significantly in the past few years, sources from the municipal public security bureau said.

Since 2004, the number of gun-related cases has dropped by an average of 12,7 percent yearly and the number of robberies using vehicles dropped by 69.1 percent in the January-May period, compared to the same period last year.

Police set up booths in six districts Saturday and distributed 60,000 pamphlets, calling on the public to offer information related to the illegal possession of guns.

The move is part of the Ministry of Public Security's eight-month campaign to crack down on illegal possession and production of guns, which was initiated in March this year.

Police in Yunnan, Qinghai and Fujian provinces have investigated 94 gun-related cases involving 279 suspects and confiscated 432 guns, according to a Xinhua report. The ministry is offering a reward of up to 10,000 yuan to reports about illegal possession of firearms.

China's police have confiscated 12,350 tons of explosives and 502,000 guns in the past five years. The number of gun violence cases has dropped in recent years, thanks to several national campaigns.

(Shenzhen Daily June 25, 2007)