Police in an east China town have been asked to apologize to victims if they fail to crack a case within six months, which local people applauded.  

The satisfaction rate by citizens has risen from 80 percent three years ago to 98 percent at present, and people became more cooperative since the rule came into effect, according to Wang Zhengjian, a senior officer of the police station of Tingpang Town, Sanmen County of Zhejiang Province.

Wang said the previous low satisfaction rate was because people received no official responses concerning cases that had yet to be solved for some reasons. The station since mulled and made the unusual decision of offering apologies.

According to the decision, officers responsible for unresolved cases should pay a home visit to victims to make an apology. If that unresolved case involving money or property worth more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) or severe offenses, officers should repeat that apology once every six months.

Local people welcomed the decision amid mixed feelings. Zhang Yiqun, a lawyer of the Zhejiang Zheyuan Law Firm, said although the law does not require doing so, officers do have a choice to apologize if they could not solve a case because of lacking clues or technological incompetence. This will promote a harmonious relationship between police and the public, he said.

Wang Shunda, an officer with the Provincial Public Security Bureau, said it is unnecessary for police officers to say "sorry" because the case-solving rate was not 100 percent even in developed countries in which police have better investigation means and equipment. He said, "it is not realistic for officers to offer home apologies one by one." But he agreed that officers should pay visits to victims for more communication.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2004)