BEIJING - Judicial departments and police forces should use the Internet and new media, such as social networks, to communicate with citizens, a top Chinese security official said on Friday.

Judicial and law enforcement departments should take full advantage of new communication technologies to realize people's rights to know and to supervise, said Meng Jianzhu, secretary of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a public relations meeting.

"We should improve communication skills in the age of new media and be more confident and open to respond to people's concerns and expectations," he said.

Local police have opened official accounts on leading social networks such as Sina Weibo. The official account of Beijing police on Sina Weibo has about 4.87 million followers.

Meng urged judicial and law enforcement departments to improve transparency of their work. "We should spread truthful information through correct channels and avoid misunderstandings," he said. "We should explore new ways to win understanding and support from the people."