How do Relatives And Friends of Foreigners Get in Touch with Them After They are Detained by Public Security Organs for Suspected Criminal Offences in China?

2020/1/16

When a criminal suspect is detained, his relatives and friends are not allowed to see him. The best and quickest way to get in touch is to hire a Chinese lawyer who is proficient in English or the suspect's mother tongue. Under Chinese law, a lawyer can meet and correspond with a detained suspect or defendant, and this lawyer must be a Chinese lawyer. Hiring a lawyer cannot only meet with the criminal suspect(or the defendant), but also from the perspective of the suspect(or the defendant) to understand the case. Chinese lawyers have an unrivalled advantage in knowing Criminal Law of PRC and relevant regulations, which is conducive to protecting suspects and defendants.

In addition, foreign diplomatic and consular officials in China can also visit suspects before the end of the investigation by the public security organs. The meeting of a foreign suspect with his near relatives or guardian shall be approved by the public security organ.

It can be seen from this that foreign diplomats and consular officials in China, close relatives and guardians of foreign criminal suspects can all visit or meet criminal suspects during the investigation stage, but there are different degrees of inconvenience and restrictions. We suggest that when a foreigner is detained on suspicion of a criminal offence, his or her relatives or guardians should immediately seek the help of a Chinese lawyer so as to get in touch with the suspect as soon as possible and protect his or her lawful rights and interests to the greatest extent.