Organized crime saw a sharp increase in the country last year despite a government campaign to crack down on criminal gangs, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said yesterday.

Chinese courts received 473 cases of organized crime last year, a year-on-year increase of 27 percent.

Between 2006 and 2008, courts handled 1,026 such cases, in which 11,908 people were prosecuted, the SPC said.

Verdicts in 507 organized crime cases have been given, with 4,919 people sentenced, it said.

More than 2,310 convicts, or 47 percent, have either been sentenced to death or five years or more in prison.

The rate of heavy sentences - five years or more - in organized crime cases is 30 percent higher than other criminal cases, the court said.

"Groups of criminals who are a serious threat to social security, people's lives and property have been given the severest punishment," SPC spokesman Ni Shouming said.

"Chinese courts will continue to deal with cases of organized crime strictly. We will also emphasize on special campaigns against such activities in this year's work agenda," Ni added.

Last week, the procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Cao Jianming said China will face an uphill task in maintaining social stability this year, as the number and complexities of criminal cases increase.

"The overall number of criminal cases keeps growing, demanding more efforts in maintaining social stability and harmony," Cao said.

From 2003 to 2007, the number of suspects prosecuted went up by 21 percent, and the number of cases by 33 percent.

"We must handle all criminal cases endangering national security and social stability with an iron fist," Cao said. "Efforts should be made to resolve conflicts and disputes in a way that they can be nipped in the bud early."

Fan Chongyi, a professor at the Chinese University of Politics and Law, said special campaigns against organized gangs are important, as social stability is critical to the development of the country.

"Organized crimes have increased and have become more serious with the development of the market economy. It should be the country's top priority to reduce such crimes," Fan said.

(China Daily February 27, 2009)