This year's festival saw less crime, ministry says

Crime in China dropped more than 20 percent year-on-year during the Spring Festival holiday, while public security remained stable across the country, the Ministry of Public Security revealed on Wednesday.

For the eight-day holiday from Jan 28 to Feb 4, authorities carried out targeted patrols in key areas, including commercial districts, tourist attractions, transportation hubs and popular social media spots, the ministry said. Efforts to crack down on illegal activities common during holidays were also intensified.

More than 4 million police officers were deployed nationwide, assisted by 7.4 million community volunteers, to maintain security. By 5 pm on Tuesday, the number of criminal cases had dropped 20.9 percent year-on-year, while security-related incidents fell 14.3 percent, according to ministry data.

The 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, which began on Jan 14 and runs through Feb 22, is a key focus for law enforcement and has seen more than 2.3 billion cross-regional trips, according to the Ministry of Transport. To manage the surge, authorities have dispatched 1.3 million traffic police officers and 500,000 police vehicles to monitor roads, enforce traffic laws and handle adverse weather conditions.

In Shaanxi province, traffic police have provided food and hot water to travelers stranded by snowstorms, while officers in Liaoning province have worked to clear roads of ice and snow and guide vehicles to prevent secondary accidents.

Cross-border travel also surged during the holiday, with immigration authorities inspecting 13.1 million travelers and 470,000 vehicles. Authorities tightened border control measures, but operations at ports nationwide remained smooth and orderly, the ministry said.

Large events held during Spring Festival were strictly regulated, with 580,000 security personnel deployed to manage crowds and respond to emergencies. More than 4,800 large-scale events, including temple fairs and cultural festivals, and 710 major fireworks displays were held safely, officials said.

Authorities also stepped up safety inspections at tourist sites, deploying 560,000 officers and handling more than 3,200 tourism-related disputes.

Fireworks, a central element of Chinese New Year celebrations, were closely monitored. Local security agencies inspected 5,700 fireworks producers and vendors, addressed more than 1,100 safety hazards and investigated more than 570 cases involving the illegal production, sales and transportation of fireworks. Police also patrolled crowded areas to prevent unauthorized fireworks displays.