Beijing's new "green police squad" has launched its first joint crackdown on polluters with environmental protection inspectors.

Officers with the squad - part of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau - have been helping environmental protection inspectors carry out surprise checks on manufacturing companies since Feb 27, with the campaign set to last through March.

"The joint inspections will focus on major industries discharging airborne pollutants, such as printing houses and furniture factories, and also diesel trucks," said Zhao Zhiwei, deputy director of the Beijing Environmental Inspection Team.

He gave the example of a furniture plant that had failed to deal with the large amount of dust it produced, which contributes to air pollution. The business, which earlier had production suspended due to pollution issues, was ordered to install new equipment to control dust.

Environmental protection inspectors are usually required to report serious pollution violations - which can carry criminal punishments - to the public security bureau for further investigation. The joint campaign would help streamline the process of prosecuting offenders, Zhao said.

Also, the joint campaign will make environmental protection inspectors feel safer during their inspections.

Wang Yankui, an environmental inspector, said that a few companies have been known to resist inspections and sometimes even threaten officials with violence.

"We hope the police can better protect our safety during checks," he added.

The environment police squad was launched on Jan 18 with 50 officers, as part of the capital's efforts to shore up environmental supervision.

"Open-air barbecues, garbage incinerators, biomass burning, dust from roads - these acts of noncompliance with the regulations are actually the result of lax supervision and weak law enforcement," Beijing Mayor Cai Qi was cited saying in a Xinhua News Agency report in January.

Pei Xudong, head of the environment police squad, said in a statement that his officers will cover a range of areas to protect the environment: "In addition to working with environmental authorities, the new squad will also cooperate with the land, resources and water authorities to address illegal mining or misuse of farmland."

More joint campaigns will be conducted in future to control pollution, especially air pollution, he added.

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