STAFF numbers at police stations have been enhanced by nearly 30 percent following a reshuffle that has slashed the number of police stations in Shenzhen by 40 percent.

　　Officials said Monday that police responded to crime reports more quickly with more efficient service following the reshuffle that closed 82 stations, reducing the number of stations to 103.

　　Officials assured residents that the service floors of the merged stations had been expanded to cope with increasing applications for abode and immigration documents.

　　Police stations have resumed abode and immigration services after a two-week suspension pending the reshuffle.

　　The rank of the chiefs of the 28 police stations in Futian, Luohu, Nanshan and Yantian districts was raised to vice-department-chief level as a result of the mergers.

　　New station leaders had been appointed through strict selection procedures, the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau said.

　　All of the new station chiefs hold college diplomas or above and are aged under 48, indications that the reshuffle has also brought in young, energetic and professional leaderships for grassroots law enforcement.