In May, environmental scientist Lei Yang, 29, of Beijing died in police custody. The death was originally reported as a heart attack, but an autopsy released this month determined that he died from suffocation on gastric fluid. Two officers have been arrested in relation to his death.
On Tuesday, the ministry announced new protocols for officers to follow when dealing with the public, in an effort to keep their police in check.
“Chinese residents can now record the actions of police officers as long as it does not stop them from doing their job,” the South China Morning Post reported.
“Civilians have the right under the constitution to monitor the work of police but sadly that right is often denied by police officers who sometimes even respond with violence,” Wen Donghai, a traffic police officer turned lawyer, told the South China Morning Post.
Still, as long as people are not hindering law enforcement, they are perfectly free to film, according to the ministry.
“Police should accept public monitoring and get used to implementing the law in front of cameras if members of the public record the actions without hindering law enforcement,” CCTV reported.
