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Government agency · Beijing

Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China

中华人民共和国公安部

The national public-security ministry, overseeing policing and important criminal-investigation, public-order and administrative-security functions.

Primary sources reviewed
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Institution typeGovernment agency JurisdictionNationwide (PRC)
Institution profile / — Government agency · Nationwide (PRC)

National leadership for policing, investigations and public-order administration

The ministry directs the national public-security system, but an incident or administrative matter is ordinarily handled by the competent local public-security bureau, specialized unit or entry-exit body. The legal route depends on whether the matter is criminal, administrative or regulatory.

What it doesDirects public-security work nationwide and administers major policing, criminal-investigation and public-order functions, together with specified administrative regimes assigned by law.
When it mattersRelevant to criminal investigations, police procedure, public-security administration, certain foreign-NGO matters and compliance incidents involving public-security authorities.

What falls within this authority’s remit

Classify the matter as a criminal investigation, public-order case, administrative-security process or specialized registration issue before identifying the competent police body and procedural safeguards.

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Criminal policing, public order and specialized administration

The public-security system handles criminal investigation, public-order enforcement and defined administrative functions, including entry-exit, traffic and overseas-NGO matters through responsible units.

Match the task to the official service

Use the route that corresponds to the filing, inquiry or administrative service you need.

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Official website

Directs public-security work nationwide and administers major policing, criminal-investigation and public-order functions, together with specified administrative regimes assigned by law.

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Rules, services and official notices

Start with primary institutional sources. Verify service links and procedural status before relying on a filing path.

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ResourceLanguageVersion / dateOpen
Official website
Chinese Live — editor-verified accessible 2026-09-18
State Council English ministries directory
English Secondary orientation

Distinguishing police powers and procedures

These terms help separate criminal procedure from public-order enforcement and specialized administrative supervision.

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criminal investigation

Evidence-gathering and coercive activity after a suspected crime enters the criminal-procedure framework, subject to statutory powers and case jurisdiction.

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02

police

Public-security organs and officers exercising criminal-investigation and administrative functions at national and local levels.

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public security

The administration of social order and safety, including conduct that may be handled as an administrative violation rather than a crime.

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04

foreign NGO

An overseas nonprofit's China activity is subject to a specialized registration and filing framework administered through public-security organs.

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05

administrative detention

Short-term deprivation of liberty imposed as an administrative public-order penalty, distinct from criminal detention and imprisonment.

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How this entry was source-reviewed

The review date describes when the listed primary sources were checked. It is not a guarantee that jurisdiction remains unchanged after that date.

Source reviewed
Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of ChinaPublic-security policy, policing notices and specialized administrative services Open source
Reference boundary

Criminal and administrative police procedures must not be conflated.

Confirm the legal basis, case classification, handling organ, procedural document, time limit and available review or defence route for the specific police action.