The Ministry of Public Security has issued a new regulation to bring police activities under stricter control, in order to stop illegal practices such as torture,threats and deception to secure confessions or investigate offenses.

The new regulations, which go into force on January 1, 2004, also decree that police officers should respect the dignity of suspects when conducting investigations; must not dish out on-the-spot fines in prostitution cases; and do not exercise administrative detention of people suffering from infectious diseases.

Police officers will not be permitted to interview suspects for more than 12 hours at a stretch, but may extend to 24 hours with special permission. Police may not confiscate money and goods of suspects for more than 15 days.

People will be permitted to refuse to pay a fine if the police decline to give receipts, which must be printed and issued by financial departments at the provincial level or above.

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