China will continue to clamp down on crimes and beef up a nationwide campaign to deal severely with criminals, a top public security official in Beijing on November 22.

Jia Chunwang, minister of Public Security, said the "Strike Hard" campaign launched in 1983 has proved an effective way to curb rampant crimes in the country.

He praised a number of local police departments at a gathering for their efforts in capturing escaped criminals during a three- month campaign on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic.

Jia urged to maintain an "energetic attack and intensive pressure" against criminals to safeguard current reforms and the modernization drive. From July to September more than 230,000 escaped criminals surrendered to police. This was partly due to participation of the local media. Many journalists were invited to help track down escaped criminals.

However, criminals at large remain a serious problem. Jia called for setting up a police operation system at the earliest possible date.

In the next couple of years, public security departments at all levels will mainly work on reinforcing grassroots units and set up a contract system for police units.

The police will step up control over china's "floating population", improve the Resident Identity Card system, crack down on criminal activities involving guns and drugs as well as criminal gangs, the minister said.