BEIJING - The State Council, or China's cabinet, issued revised regulations on Thursday regarding the supervision of police conduct.

The amended rules, adopted on August 24 at a cabinet meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao, will take effect on October 1. The existing rules have been in effect since 1997.

The rules aim to "improve the supervision of police forces and ensure that they perform their duties and observe discipline," a cabinet statement said.

An inspection committee under the Ministry of Public Security will be in charge of inspecting police work nationwide and will report directly to the Minister of Public Security, according to the amended rules.

Inspection committees at different levels of government are responsible for overseeing public security organs at the same levels, the rules said.

The committees will evaluate how police handle emergencies and criminal cases, as well as evaluate their usage of weapons, police equipment and vehicles, according to the revised rules.

Inspectors should also take heed of the public's opinion in order to improve their own inspection work, the rules said.

Police who are suspected to be in violation of the criminal law will be sent before judicial authorities, according to the rules.

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