A special campaign to check the behavior of police officers will be launched nationwide on Sept 1, as part of the government efforts to ensure the success of the 29th Olympic Games in 2008, China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced yesterday.

The campaign, aiming to strengthen police's discipline and regularize law enforcement, will be spearheaded by the Olympic host of Beijing and other co-host cities on September 1, and followed by major tourist cities on Jan. 1, 2008.

The campaign is scheduled to last through Oct 1, 2008.

According to the ministry, the campaign is to focus on the behavior and manner of police officers on duty, particularly in public places and on the spots of large-scale activities. Wearing uniforms or police signs in a wrong way is seen as inappropriate and should be rectified.

The inspectors will check police officers, mainly community police, traffic police and patrol police, to see how they behave when people seek help and service. Smoking, eating food, and chatting in working hours are regarded as harmful to the image of police and will also be prohibited.

The police hotline, police stations, and police officers who come to handle cases on the spot will be checked for their service and attitude towards help seekers.

Inspectors will check whether the police officers have adopted a positive attitude, whether there is any negligence of duty, and whether they have adopted proper and effective measures.

During the campaign, the inspectors will check the management and use of police vehicles. Police vans must be equipped with license plates and police signs, lights and alarms, and if not on urgent duty, they must yield to traffic rules.

Moreover, the inspectors will see how the "Five Bans" have been implemented by the police. The bans, which were issued by the ministry several years ago, prohibit police officers from gambling, drinking alcohol in working hours and abusing guns.