Changes in China’s Policing: Organizational Structure and Daily Law Enforcement of Frontline Police

Abstract

Since 2014, China's Ministry of Public Security has begun to reform the national police system, which involves internal command, criminal intelligence and welfare support systems. This research aims to explore how policing reform affects the daily law enforcement of frontline police officers and grassroot police units, and the views of frontline police officers on policing reform. The study also analyses the changes in the organisational structure of grassroot police units and the criminal intelligence system after the policing reform. The research methodology consisted of the researchers conducting a textual analysis of work reports issued by multiple local police units and reform reports in newspapers, and investigating the views of frontline police officers on policing reform. The study found that the reform did help enhance the law enforcement capabilities of grassroot police units and frontline police officers. Most frontline police officers additionally supported the policing reform. However, the policing reform has also led to issues such as the indiscriminate expansion of police power and the work pressure on frontline police officers. Finally, this study is an exploratory observation of China's national police system and can provide new insights into research on policing and the understanding of Chinese policing practices. It can additionally provide different countries with new information about policing reform.