Special police unit to combat gangs, organized crime

China plans to establish a special police division to combat organized crime and gang-related violence in response to growing unrest in the face of the global economic crisis, AFP reported, citing state media. An unidentified official said that gang-related crimes had become "a threat to our social stability and economy" and explained that the new police division will tackle organized prostitution, gambling and drug trafficking. Figures from China’s supreme court show a 161% rise in gang-related crimes in 2007. The report said that police were also concerned about a rise in crime stemming from unemployment caused by the economic crisis, particularly in export-driven industries, which have been worst hit by the economic slowdown.