Officials said the new method of communication was effective for mending bruised relations between the police and the public.

"We should master the use of micro-blogs to better interact with the people, to hear their complaints and criticism and to provide better services," Meng Jianzhu, Minister of Public Security, told a national police workshop last December.

Wang Dawei, a professor at the Chinese People's Public Security University, said with the new services the police had made a positive shift from passive action to taking the initiative.

In addition, the general public can offer clues in criminal cases, as they are the main force in curbing crime, Wang said.

In November last year, micro-bloggers helped police officers in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, catch a couple who confessed to murdering their 3-year-old daughter and dumping her body in the sea.

Xiamen police released information on its micro-blog including the victim's pictures and asked for netizens' help. The post was forwarded 10,000 times in six days before the case was solved, and the police received more than 3,000 tip-offs from the public.

It is the first publicly reported instance of a murder being solved with the help of micro-bloggers.

At a recent seminar held in Beijing, police officers from Beijing and Guangdong, Hebei and Jiangsu provinces pledged to strengthen cross-regional cooperation via micro-blogs.

Besides police authorities, courts are also using micro-blogs to solve conflicts caused by miscarriages of justice.

In October 2010, a micro-blog covering all 28 courts in Shanghai was launched on ximin.cn, a local news portal, allowing Internet surfers to post comments once court rulings are posted.

The move, possibly the first of its kind nationwide, aims to facilitate communication between the courts and the public, said Shen Gang, an official with the Higher People's Court of Shanghai. Shen is responsible for operating and monitoring local courts' micro-blogs.

"We intend to present and promote the image of Chinese courts to the public by using modern information technology," Shen said. "We could also have a better understanding of what the public really want to know through posting messages and receiving feedback."

More than 1,300 pieces of information have so far been released through the courts' micro-blogs, including announcements, pictures and video footage as well as responses to inquiries and questions posed by Internet users, Shen said.

Meanwhile, other government agencies have also turned to micro-blogs as a way to publish policies and other information, as well as hear complaints from the public.

According to Sina.com's statistics, nearly 60 government departments had opened micro-blog accounts on t.sina.com.cn by August 2010, including the Yunnan Provincial Government, whose account has racked up more than 48,800 followers since opening in June last year.

Wu Hao, former Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, started the trend of government officials using micro-blogs to communicate with the public on government affairs.

Wu, a former journalist, is known for his attempts to reform the publicity means of the Party and the government. His micro-blog has touched many controversial issues.

Wu said on his micro-blog he believes a micro-blogging community is like a social university where people could learn, share and think together.

Scholars applaud such interactions as signs ordinary people are being granted more say in public affairs, a trend that can increase government transparency and promote democracy.

"More government agencies should join the police in inviting the public to voice complaints online or keep an eye on government work to head off corruption," said Wang Zhongwu, a professor in sociology at Shandong University.

"Comments posted on the Internet might upset some officials, but they have to listen to complaints and criticisms to improve governance," he said.

Landmark Events in 2010

- On September 10, the self-immolation of three residents in Yihuang, Jiangxi Province, who were protesting the forced demolition of their home, was broadcast live by a member of the victims' family, attracting nationwide attention. Several local officials, including the county head, were later held accountable.

- Li Qiming, a 22-year-old drunk driver, caused a car accident at Hebei University on October 16. When caught by security guards, Li shouted, "Go ahead, sue me if you dare. My dad is Li Gang!" Micro-blogs were the first to reveal his father's identity. "My dad is Li Gang!" has since become a popular Internet catchphrase in China, used ironically in conversation by speakers trying to avoid responsibility.

- Yu Jianrong, a professor at the Rural Development Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made public a war of words between himself and local officials in Jiangxi Province over forced demolitions of private homes on his micro-blog on November 1. A local official allegedly challenged Yu by asking, "What would intellectuals like you have if it weren't for forced demolitions?"

- On November 23, Xiamen police released information of a murder case on its micro-blog and asked for netizens' help to provide clues. On November 29, micro-bloggers' tip-offs helped the police catch the murderers.

- On December 6, 2010, Hong Kong writer Louis Cha was rumored to be dead through micro-blogs. The incident triggered suggestions the government should focus on developing its information channels by using micro-blogs to prevent false rumors.

- The wife of blogger Fang Zhouzi, known for exposing academic fraud, revealed a violent attack on the famous "science cop" on Fang's micro-blog. Police investigations found it was masterminded by a urologist who, Fang said, had been involved in academic fraud. Beijing police first announced the arrest of the attackers on its micro-blog.

- After a terrible fire in an apartment building in Shanghai on November 15, netizens called for bouquets for the victims through micro-blogs. Officials joined local residents in a public memorial service on November 22.

- Two leading Chinese Internet companies, Tencent and Qihoo 360, were engaged in a month-long tussle in September, in which they accused each other of spying, hacking and leaking users' private information, affecting thousands of users. Millions of Chinese netizens gathered on micro-blogs, to condemn the practice.

- Zhou Libo, a famous Shanghai-based stand-up comedian, called the Internet "a public toilet," where netizens throw their "private crap," on his micro-blog on November 20. The comments sparked public anger and condemnation.

- Tang Jun, former President of Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd., becomes the focus of public controversy over his credentials, after being accused of fabricating his resume by well-known whistleblower Fang Zhouzi on his micro-blog on July 1. Tang had been considered a "star employee" in China due to his supposed innovative and professional spirit.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)