Iraq-style 'wanted' cards spark big response
By Wu Chong (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-23 06:19

When it comes to catching criminals, Henan police, it seems, have taken a leaf out of the US military's book.

Last week, the Public Security Bureau in Xingyang, Central China's Henan Province, released half-a-million sets of "most wanted" playing cards similar to those issued by the US army in Iraq.

A Chinese policeman displays a playing card featuring an escaped criminal in Central China's Henan province, Tuesday November 15, 2005. In an effort to capture the criminals as soon as possible, altogether 16 of them and their details have been printed on a deck of playing cards. People who offer information to the police will be rewarded a sum of money. [newsphoto]

"The number of valid calls stayed around 50 a day for the first few days, and we're still getting between 10 and 20 every day," a police officer surnamed Wang told China Daily yesterday.

People's Daily reported yesterday that the police received more than 200 calls on the first day.

"We used to publicize our number on notices and posters. But we only got one or two calls every few days," said Wang.

Playing cards featuring 16 escaped criminals and their details are displayed. The police in Central China's Henan province have released a deck of cards in an effort to capture them as soon as possible. [newsphoto]

Police have gleaned more than 30 leads from the sea of calls, she added.

The cards, which were distributed at train stations, carry the pictures of the city's 16 most wanted men as Aces, Kings, Queens and Jacks.

Rewards, also printed on the cards, range from 1,000 yuan (US$120) to 20,000 yuan (US$2,470).

Police said cards grab more attention, and spread faster and wider among the public than posters and notices and they are also cheaper.

Now other police authorities are considering printing their own "most wanted" cards.

(China Daily 11/23/2005 page3)