Draft requires police to give relatives notice of detention

Reasons for arrest need not be released in some circumstances

BEIJING - A controversial draft article that could lead to someone's arrest without informing their family members is likely to be revised to meet social concerns about the abuse of police powers.

The draft amendment, while still allows police officers not to inform the relatives of suspects about their detention and arrest under some circumstances, requires public security departments to let the family members know "within 24 hours after the situation that could disrupt investigation disappears".