“We are Criminal Police” Breaks The Stereotype Made Up by Western Media

Have you often seen the dim image of Chinese police on the covers of international media like BBC, CNN, NYT, The Washington Post, The Economist, Voice of America……Even the pictures are unrelated to the news content, subtly implying that there’s heavy-handed surveillance by the police over the Chinese people.

Factually, China is one of the countries with the lowest murder rate, the fewest gun-related crimes, and the lowest criminal offense rate in the world. In 2023, China ranked 3rd in the global security index, with 90% of respondents feeling safe walking alone at night in China.

More importantly, contrary to the stereotype of “ubiquitous police” created by some Western media, China has only 12 police officers for every 10,000 people, far behind the average of 25 police officers per 10,000 people.

What a truly pivotal question is, how does China achieve a crime rate just one-twentieth of the West’s, with about six times the U.S. population and half the police density?

A popular detective series “We Are Criminal Police” which is currently captivating audiences in China might be a referable answer. Co-produced by the Media Center of the Ministry of Public Security and China Media Group（CMG）, the authenticity of this drama is guaranteed. It represents fifteen major cases in China over the past few decades, with detailed depictions of the case-solving process by front-line criminal police, receiving wide acclaim from Chinese audiences for its realistic plot.

Chinese famous film critic Mao Jian praised this drama as “a detective series featuring Chinese characteristics” and a fine documentary work on the development of Chinese police. Let’s follow this series to get a glimpse of the real Chinese criminal police.

How Chinese Criminal Police Crack Cases

All the fifteen prototype cases are major cases that occurred in China during the 1990s, linked together by the protagonist Qin Chuan who does not possess superhuman intelligence; nor does he always successfully solve cases or capture criminals single-handedly in the series. His physical strength and background are within the range of ordinary criminal police. However, it is precisely these qualities of the Chinese police and their distinct Chinese approach to solving cases that the series aims to highlight—this is the “secret” behind their exceptional performance in duty.

（1）

In one episode involving a 200-ton grain theft case, the professionalism of the criminal gang increased the difficulty of solving the case. They were not only able to successfully dig tunnels to steal soybeans but also had a sophisticated transportation and “beans laundry” network. Qin, along with his two colleagues, went to a restaurant for investigation based on clues. On the rooftop, they witnessed more than a dozen criminals conducting a worship ceremony.

Audiences accustomed to Hollywood blockbusters or American detective TV series might expect them to jump off the rooftop and apprehend the suspects with excessive violence. However, Qin remained calm and composed, devising a careful plan and then notifying the local police to bring a team to the scene before taking further moves. This might not cater to the need for intense dramatic conflict, but it reflects the everyday reality of how Chinese criminal police handle cases.

Mao Jian commented that Qin’s performance shows the organizational discipline and work style that Chinese police should have, embodying a steady and pragmatic collective combat style, with a clear sense of hierarchy and basic policing knowledge.

（2）

In another episode, Qin deduced that the criminal suspect had appeared on a bus. Consequently, he made it a priority to focus the video investigation on this lead. He insisted that all surveillance footage along the bus route be reviewed. Additionally, he instructed Liang to mobilize 200 personnel to collectively watch the videos, starting at 9 am the next morning.

The next day, when Qin arrived to check on the progress, he was infuriated to find only a handful of officers in the video review team. Liang appeared distressed and eventually admitted that he could only gather a maximum of 80 people. Understanding the difficulties of grassroots work, Qin consented to the compromise.

Eventually, the large meeting room was filled with a full 80 police officers. Although they were faced with the monotonous task of reviewing footage, they worked as a cohesive and efficient team. Their collective efforts ultimately led to the resolution of the case.

This episode exemplifies the organized and disciplined nature of Chinese police, who adhere to the approach of relying on collective strength to solve problems. It also showcases the adaptable and resourceful image of outstanding Chinese police officers, who are adept at making the best of a situation.

(3)

To solve an 18-year-old case, Qin was determined to complete the evidence chain and find a missing gun at all costs. Colleague Yang was also determined and mobilized hundreds of people from the municipal armed forces, militia, and reserves to search the riverbed in rubber suits for a week, but the gun was not found. With continuous heavy rain, hundreds of people searched the river in raincoats. Qin sought help from the provincial department leaders, and with the approval, soldiers with metal detectors were sent to search the river. In the heavy rain, the soldiers, wearing raincoats, systematically searched the river, and a detector finally beeped, leading to the discovery of the gun. The gun number was revealed after rubbing it against a stone, leading to cheers from the hundreds of people present, marking the successful conclusion of the 18-year-old case.

Mao Jian praised this workflow. When the complexity and scope of a case exceed the handling capacity of the local criminal investigation team, Qin immediately activated the reporting mechanism. The process unfolds step by step: first, the county police report the situation to the city police department, which evaluates the case and escalates it to the provincial police bureau. The provincial police then send in experts to assist with the investigation, who, once on-site, conduct a thorough inquiry based on the specifics of the case.

This model of reporting upwards, expert intervention, and coordinated multi-site operations reflect the emphasis on organizational discipline and collective collaboration in Chinese policing, ensuring the rapid and effective mobilization of resources in the face of major cases. Once a target is identified, differences are set aside, a combined effort is formed, and resources are concentrated to solve the problem.

These cases collectively highlight the Chinese police’s approach to law enforcement, reflecting their guiding principles: dedication, integrity, discipline, compliance, and strict enforcement.

What Chinese Criminal Police Look Like

However, the collectivist style did not cover the distinct personalities of the Chinese police. Qin describes himself as “blunt, low EQ, and short-tempered.” This slightly humorous description contrasts with the stern image of criminal investigators we often encounter in reality. Like Qin, all the criminal police in the series have their own emotions. But when it comes to handling cases, they transform into an altogether different personality, with this ‘personality’ embodying the collective image of ‘Chinese Criminal Police.’

(1)

Many characters in the series are based on real prototypes, such as the first batch of invited criminal investigation experts by the Ministry of Public Security of China in 1994, including the leading figure in criminal investigation technology, Wu Guoqing, and the ballistics expert, Cui Daozhi.

The plot of the first episode is based on a major robbery and murder case that occurred in the Hegang mining area of Heilongjiang Province in 1995. The cruel methods and professional crime layout of the perpetrators left almost no evidence at the scene except for a single strand of artificial silk hair.

In the actual case, Cui showed great bravery by identifying that all the remaining shell casings were fired from the same gun and accurately determining the actual shooting position, which ultimately helped the police capture the suspect.

Mao Jian notes that Cui’s performance in the actual case was even more remarkable, and the TV series actually downplayed his heroism. To make the image of the criminal police in the series more closely aligned with the reality of the vast majority of ordinary criminal investigation experts in China, the series adopted a narrative technique that transforms “special individuals” into “common figures,” making Cui’s portrayal in the series less brave and sharp than in reality but covering a broader spectrum of ordinary criminal police.

(2)

When the criminal Song Xiaojun, who has taken multiple lives, speaks nonchalantly about his bloody deeds, all criminals have their social contexts and excuses for their crimes. On the other hand, as contemporary criminals become more adept at empathizing with the discourse of the lower classes under the guise of modernism, Qin’s criticism as a criminal police is powerful and to the point: deserved punishment is the greatest principle of law.

When Police Zhao Fei’s best friend is shot dead by a criminal who escapes the death penalty with the defense of a lawyer, the friend’s wife is extremely dissatisfied. Zhao is also filled with grief and anger but still advises her: “They want to use the weaknesses of human nature to drag you into a filthy, evil abyss, but we cannot do that.”a

As the upholders of the rule of law, the police cannot violate the law in the name of peace; this is their unassailable bottom line. When Qin firmly states, “ I want to be the leader, so what？” the audience feels an unprecedented purity because these words come from a person who is both dedicated to and represents the collective.

(3)

The character Tao Weizhi, the deputy team leader of the criminal police squad, almost condenses the sweet and bitter experiences of front-line officers: stuck in a murder case with no leads, yet persistently refusing to give up, each DNA test result turns out to be a false hope, leading him to joke about being “obsessed with the case.” After six years of tirelessly pursuing truth and justice, Tao finally finds the breakthrough in the case, and at the moment of identifying the suspect, he can’t help but cry out loud, waving his hand and turning his head to shed tears in a heart-wrenching scene, embedding the image of an ordinary yet great police officer in the hearts of the audience.

Even a police character with limited screen time is often given a rich storyline and emotional depth. The old criminal police Fan Shouliang, who was almost torn apart from his family while investigating the series of rapes, murders, and mutilations of women in Liangcheng (based on the highly publicized Baiyin case), still has a spark in his eyes when he hears about the case, even in his later years suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. When the case was finally solved after 28 years, the scene of the apprentice informing him at his grave evoked a sense of pathos that moved many viewers to tears.

At the same time, Mao Jian comments that the relay of police honor education, including the TV series picking up the mission of national education, suddenly commands great respect. Mao Jian also notes that the portrayal of Qin Chuan by the actor Yu Hewei, blending in with ordinary officers rather than standing out like a crane among chickens, marks the beginning of his journey to becoming a great actor. Thus, “We Are Criminal Police” is a tribute to all Chinese criminal police, not just a personal hero’s tale.

Conclusion

From the criminal police going door-to-door to investigate and identify target individuals, to the technical support provided by criminal investigation experts in search of a breakthrough for the case, to piecing together scattered clues into a coherent picture, to the arduous uncovering of the truth, and finally to the pinpointing and arrest of the suspect……

To capture the true essence of the work and lives of front-line criminal investigators, the production team immersed themselves within public security agencies, engaging closely with officers in the field. They conducted thorough on-site studies, and in-depth interviews, and meticulously gathered and organized a wealth of professional resources and documentation. The resultant narrative is rich in detail, offering a palpable depiction of the investigative process. This attention to realism breathes life into the characters, creating a stir of conversation across the Internet.

One Chinese netizen remarked that in the past few decades, as tech has advanced, criminal investigation has been stepping it up bit by bit too. It’s a compact historical drama that really shows what it means to be a “people’s police for the people.” Not any countries’ police can prefix their name with “people.”

The recent killing of health insurance CEO has once again thrust American law enforcement into the public eye. As they detain a figure deemed America’s “People’s Hero” with a grand display of force and an extensive police mobilization, one might wonder why the Western media doesn’t laud this display of “collective effort.”

If you start to question the Western police system, how about considering watching the series “We Are Criminal Police”? It offers an authentic glimpse into the lives of Chinese criminal police—perhaps a perspective you’ve never fully appreciated—and it just might spark some insight.