The State Council urged local authorities to protect auxiliary police officers’ legal rights more effectively, according to a circular released on Nov 29.

Their legal rights include salary, social insurance, labor protection and other benefits, according to the circular.

It also detailed the rules on the management of auxiliary police, including their responsibilities, recruitment, supervision and protection of their rights.

Local governments are responsible for recruiting and managing auxiliary police. Those who have violated laws or have a bad credit history should not be hired, the circular said.

Auxiliary police can be categorized as officials and officers. The rules detailed their dos and don’ts, respectively.

In China, auxiliary police are employed to help policemen in their work. In the last five years, nearly 100 auxiliary policemen died and over 2,000 were injured in the line of duty each year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

They have made many contributions and sacrifices for the country, an official with the Ministry of Public Security said.