Mafia-style gangsters urged to surrender

BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Mafia-style gangsters and individuals who shelter gang members are being encouraged to turn themselves in before March 1, according to an official circular.

Those who turn themselves in will get a lesser punishment while staff of state organs who provide protection to gangs will be investigated severely and taken into justice in accordance with the law, according to the circular issued by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security and justice.

Relatives and friends of gang members should persuade them to surrender, it said.

The public are welcome to submit tip-offs through www.12389.gov.cn or to call 010-12389, the circular said.

According to a document released last month by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, the country will begin a new campaign against organized crime and officials who shelter criminal organizations.

The fight will focus on industries and areas prone to gang crime, organized crimes that prompt the "strongest public reaction" and crimes "detested" by the people, it said.

The document said that the campaign would involve fighting corruption, including lower-level corrupt officials, and deal with the protective "umbrellas" of gang crime. Enditem