Records of minor offences will be sealed under a new regulation rather than linked to a person’s identity information – a move that is proving unpopular among the public though it has been welcomed by legal experts.
The new rule is part of the amended Public Security Administration Punishments Law, which was introduced in 2006 and includes minor offences such as drug use, soliciting prostitutes and minor brawls.
National People’s Congress lawmakers approved the revision in June and it will take effect from January 1.
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The new regulation states that records of minor offences covered by the law “shall not be provided to any organisation or individual, nor disclosed publicly” except where required for “the investigation needs of relevant state authorities” or “queries by relevant units in accordance with national regulations”.
Violations of this law are not considered criminal offences and they typically result in fines and up to 15 days of administrative detention.
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But the record of the offence follows the person around since it is attached to their ID details and can have an impact on their job prospects and lives.
With the new rule set to take effect in less than a month, there has been a public backlash over the move – particularly when it comes to drug users.