Chinese police crack down on substandard fireworks

Police on Sunday vowed to step up efforts against substandard fireworks as the Spring Festival, China's biggest holiday, approaches.

Producers and distributors will be inspected nationwide in a bid to prevent substandard products from entering the market, as well as stop illegal production of fireworks, a Ministry of Public Security statement said.

Police will also step up patrols during the Spring Festival holiday, which falls on Feb. 10, the statement said.

Since December, police nationwide have confiscated more than 230,000 boxes of substandard fireworks and detained 1,545 suspects.

The ministry also called on citizens to buy quality fireworks and take necessary precautions when setting them off.

Last Spring Festival, one person died and 271 people were injured in accidents caused by fireworks in Beijing alone.