ཀམ- -

2

-

detention

offenders

without

arrest

of

suspected

criminal law

when they are readily identifiable or likely to

flee or destroy evidence.

This statute also governs arrest

procedures. Arrest is a procedural device required for the approval of lengthy periods detention. during the investigation of a criminal offense.

1.

Constitution

inviolable."

Article 37 of the Constitution (1982) provides that, "freedom of the person of citizens of the P.R.C. is

Unlawful arrest or detention are also expressly prohibited. Chinese citizens therefore enjoy a constitutional right

liberty, except where constrained

to

by law.

This position is somewhat analogous to the protection of personal liberty under English law, as the Chinese constitutional right to personal liberty does not overide any other laws of the state. The distinction is of course that there are many more legal pretexts in China for the denial of personal liberty than exist in Britain. Article 37 is therefore essentially a protection against detention by persons unauthorised to do so by the state.

2. State Police Organisations

arrest

In China the State's powers of detention and

are exercised by the divisions of the Public ) which is responsible for

Security Ministry (

most

公安部

aspects of national police work, as well as the

Security Ministry

national security

(which is responsible for

and

the People's Armed Police

U which is responsible for guarding 1人民武

XX

government institutions,

of major civil unrest.

foreign embassies and the control

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