Police required to film interrogations

Chinese police will be required to film and record all interrogations in criminal cases, under proposals by the Ministry of Public Security to ensure fairness in law enforcement and that suspects' human rights are protected.

The proposals, approved by the central government on Sunday, also include a mechanism to hold China's two million police officers to account for the cases they handle, and plans to better manage evidence gathering.

The ministry said in a statement that the credibility of the police has been damaged by problems including officers accepting bribes and bending the law to serve themselves.

The proposal to film and record interrogations is aimed at stamping out the extortion and torture that can happen in these scenarios.

The ministry will work hard to build a police force ruled by law and make sure people are treated fairly in law enforcement activities, it said.