Law has a long arm with which to strike blow against looters

A TRUCK carrying peaches overturned on an expressway in Dezhou, East China's Shandong province, last week, and the driver was seriously wounded. More than 20 farmers living near the road rushed to the scene, scrambling for the peaches that were scattered around, in defiance of the orders issued by the traffic police. China Youth Daily comments:

Although the traffic police officers clearly told the people that they were breaking the law in a bid to stop their plundering, the mob told the police to shut up, because "the law does not punish numerous offenders".

Such scenarios are not rare after traffic accidents in rural areas. Since the police officers have to attend to any injured and control the traffic to prevent further accidents, they do not have enough manpower to prevent the looting.