Policemen demonstrate their skills at the?Police Open Day event?in Huaibei, East China's Anhui province in this June 21, 2012 file photo. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - State Councilor Meng Jianzhu has urged Chinese police to cut crime by increasing their presence in public venues.

In a meeting attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Public Security on Friday, Meng asked for more officers to patrol busy streets, markets, schools and hospitals.

The state councilor called for police to strengthen efforts to crack down on mafia-style gangs, telecom scams, trafficking of children and women, economic crimes and remain committed to "high voltage" crackdowns on serious crimes.

Meng, who is also the minister of Public Security, believes it is important for police to improve their work style, embrace fairness in law enforcement and increase contact with the public.

Police should also get to grips with new media, increase communication with the masses and respond to social concerns efficiently, he stressed.