Beijing: China for the first time has introduced a law on the protection of the detainees` rights, but it will be applicable only to those held in custody for minor offences.

A regulation promulgated by the Cabinet asked the detention centres to protect the detainees` legitimate rights and interests and prohibited the canters and the warders from insulting, abusing and imposing physical punishments on the detainees.
However, the regulation is applicable only to the detention houses holding people in custody for minor offences. It will not cover the sites where criminal suspects are detained.
In China, minor offenders such as those who disturbed public order or court order will be detained for up to 15 days. Analysts say that this is the first time China is elaborating on the rights of the detained, which human rights activists say was non-existent so far.
The detention centres should inform the detainees of their legal rights and the rules they should abide by.
The centres should also give timely notice to the detainees` family members, according to the regulation, state- run Xinhua news agency reported.
Moreover, the regulation required the centres to organise proper physical and cultural activities for the inmates, and the inmates should be allowed of outdoor activities of no less than two hours each day.
The regulation also banned forced labour in the detention houses. Furthermore, the detention centres are told to provide necessary drug rehabilitation treatments for the detained drug addicts.
The body frisking and administration work on female detainees should only be conducted by female police officers, according to the regulation.
The regulation will take effect from April 1.
PTI