Chinese police are no longer allowed to shackle drunks or to
take children, elderly, pregnant women or breast-feeding mothers
involved in non-criminal cases into custody.
The Ministry of Public Security recently published the revised
Regulations on the Procedure of Handling Administrative Cases by
Police Departments.
Under the Regulations, police can use belts instead of handcuffs
to control drunks who cause a public disturbance. Drunks should not
be shackled when being questioned, particularly not after they have
sobered up.
People between the ages of 14 and 18 who are charged with
violating public security regulations for the first time, women who
are pregnant or breast-feeding infants, and elderly people 70 and
older can not be detained for minor offences.
Children 14 and 16 should be exempted from administrative
punishment, but their guardians will be ordered to better supervise
them. Punishment for those between 14 and 18 could be reduced.
According to the revised Regulations, once the suspects are
issued a summons, police should inform their family of the charges
by phone, short message (SMS) or fax as soon as possible.
The revised regulations went into force on August 24.
(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2006)