Police shortage set to be tackled

China will gradually expand its police force to ease the country's severe shortage of officers, a senior official said yesterday.

Developed countries typically have 35 police officers for every 10,000 citizens, but the ratio in China is about 11 for per 10,000 citizens, less than developing countries like Brazil and India, according to figures from the Ministry of Public Security.

"The police shortage has existed for quite a long time, and it has become increasingly pressing," Li Mingzhen, deputy director of the ministry's personnel bureau, said at a press conference yesterday.