Crime rate at 7-year low

Crime calls to Beijing police dropped dramatically in the first quarter of the year - the lowest in seven years.

Zhao Feng, from the municipal public security department, told METRO that the police command center received 15,000 reports of criminal cases this year, down 14.1 percent from the same period last year.

Zhao attributed this to a more efficient and reliable police command mechanism, with more effective distribution of police forces. Moreover, police were able to reduce burglary and theft cases, and increased patrols helped curb street crime such as robbery.