18 accused of assaulting police officers detained

Eighteen people have been detained for allegedly attacking police officers who were on duty in Beijing since the amended Criminal Law took effect on March 1, according to the capital's public security authority.

The detentions have been approved by prosecutors, a statement from the Beijing Public Security Bureau said on Tuesday.

The revised law has a new provision that states those found to have attacked on-duty police officers will be detained or put under control and could face a sentence of up to three years in prison.

Further, those who attack police officers with guns or knives or by hitting them with a car and causing serious harm could face a sentence ranging from three to seven years in prison, the law said.

In a case disclosed by Beijing police, a man surnamed Xing refused to undergo a police security check of his vehicle when he drove to a bridge in Chaoyang district on March 7. The 38-year-old suspect fled the scene, and while doing so he backed into a police car that was trying to box him in, it said.

Xing was detained for allegedly attacking police officers, it added.

In another case, residents called police to report that a man surnamed Chen assaulted people in a real estate agency in Changping district on March 2, according to the statement.

After officers took Chen, 26, back to the police station for further questioning, he insulted and assaulted investigators instead of cooperating, the statement said, adding the man was detained for the alleged assault.

The bureau said it will strictly enforce the law to maintain social stability and security and that the authority of the law cannot be challenged.