China Bans Police Torture of Suspects

The Chinese government has banned police from using torture to extract confessions, under new regulations aimed at easing growing public concern.

Campaigners gave a cautious welcome to the rules, which theoretically curtail the powers of the police to detain, fine and "re-educate" vagrants, illegal migrants and prostitutes without recourse to lawyers or the courts. They are seen as breaking "administrative" rather than criminal law, and so are outside the courts' jurisdiction.

According to Amnesty International, torture by kicking, beating, electric shocks, sleep deprivation and suspension by the arms are common. Those who confess may be sent to "re-education through labour" camps for up to three years.

Public anger about the system was stirred up in March, when a graphic designer, Sun Zhigang, was beaten to death in police custody. In the outcry that followed, the offending officers were sentenced to death.

Zhou Yongkang, the new minister of public security, has promised to curb police ex cesses. Under new rules on "administrative cases" announced this week, confessions extracted through torture will be unacceptable. Officers will also be barred from levying on-the-spot fines on prostitutes and detaining suspects for more than 12 hours. Questioning of minors can only be done in the presence of their parents.

While welcoming the move, some analysts warn that it will require an independent complaints system - something that China does not have.