Supreme Procuratorate urges crackdown on major safety crimes

The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has called for an intensified crackdown on cases involving major safety incidents, calling for speedy arrests and prosecutions if required.

According to an SPP circular publicized on Wednesday, public prosecutors should focus on crimes related to food security, public health, environment, energy and resources, as well as major incidents including fire, mining accidents and traffic accidents.

"If conditions are met, arrests and prosecutions must be carried out in accordance with law and as soon as possible," said the circular.

It urged public prosecutors to crack down on crimes that threaten national security and help maintain political security, with a special focus on crimes involving illegal gatherings that disturb public order and intent to topple the state regime.

It also pledged to counter serious offences including severe violence, crimes of disturbing market and economic order, and job-related offences like graft, bribery and malfeasance.

In addition, the circular vowed authorities would step up supervision over the procedures of handling criminal cases, in order to prevent and correct cases in which people have been unjustly charged.