Crime up in 2009; more expected in 2010

Statistics have increased due to govt's crackdown on corruption

China faces a new threat of widespread crime and violence this year after a sharp jump in the number of violent crimes in 2009, an annual legal research report by the country's top think-tank warned yesterday.

Last year saw a "drastic increase" in violent crimes, crimes against property, crimes disrupting the market economic order, and crimes disrupting social stability, according to the report on China's Rule of Law released by the Social Sciences Academic Press yesterday.