TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES are often hired by the police to help with law enforcement. These assistants have aroused controversy because their legal standing in enforcing the law was not clear until now. The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a detailed guiding document making clear their power and responsibilities. Beijing News comments:

There are many problems with temporary police assistants, because of their undefined legal status, including them becoming scapegoats in some disputes and being punished for the wrongdoings of police officers.

For example, when the police want to use force but are not sure about whether they should, they will ask the police assistants to do it. In case an innocent resident is harmed and it creates a scandal, the leading local police official will simply employ police assistants so the police officers can easily escape any responsibility.