Detention center visit leaves guests impressed
- Source: Global Times
- [09:11 April 18 2011]
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By Yang Jie
Of the tenants at the Beijing No.1 Detention Center, 70 to 80 are foreigners, police officers with the center revealed during an open day to the public on Friday. It is the only place where foreign crime suspects are detained in Beijing.
Over 20 followers of Pinganbeijing, the official microblog of the municipal Public Security Bureau (PSB), were invited to visit the center in Dougezhuang, Chaoyang district.
There are about 2,000 detainees in one of the nation's first-class detention centers, and the foreign suspects mostly were detained for drug crimes, revealed the officer guiding the tour. He said over 100 foreigners "visit" the place each year.
The center's facilities made a deep impression on visitors like Zheng Yuanjie, a well-known writer and civilian advisor to the police who was invited on the tour. Zheng said he once visited the center's old location about 20 years ago.
"Detainees even had to pee in buckets then," said Zheng.
Now, detainees have access to TV and newspapers, though it is limited to CCTV-1 and the Beijing Daily.
"Foreign language reading materials are also available for foreign detainees," said center director Wang Senlin, who added that they provide Western food for foreigners like bread, milk and jam.
"A special party is also held every Christmas, when delicacies like chocolate and Coca Cola are provided," said Wang.
