China Reports Significant Decline in Criminal Cases in 2024

In a recent announcement, the Ministry of Public Security of China reported a substantial decrease of 25.7 percent in criminal cases in 2024 relative to the prior year. This figure was shared during a press conference coinciding with China's fifth national police day. The ministry indicated that incidents related to public security showed minimal fluctuations, reinforcing the stability of the country's overall public safety landscape.

Traffic safety was another highlight, as the ministry noted a consistent record of stability without major traffic accidents for a remarkable 63 months. In terms of crime resolution, authorities successfully addressed around 11,700 criminal cases of various kinds. Furthermore, 22,000 illicit activities involving firearms and explosives were resolved, contributing to a 37.5 percent decrease in this category compared to the previous year.

The public security forces also tackled over 17,000 crimes linked to food and drug safety and cracked more than 78,000 economic crimes, effectively recovering approximately 30.67 billion yuan (about $4.27 billion) in financial losses. Moreover, around 38,000 drug-related cases were handled, leading to the seizure of 24.4 tonnes of different types of narcotics.

On a more somber note, the ministry reported that 208 police officers lost their lives while on duty in 2024, along with 174 auxiliary officers. Additionally, there were injuries sustained by 4,743 police officers and 3,710 auxiliary officers as they performed their law enforcement responsibilities.