A senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhou Yongkang yesterday called on China's police officers to unswervingly safeguard the Party's leadership and the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Loyalty is the political nature of police officers and the cornerstone of their core values, which include "loyalty, serving the people, fairness and honesty", Zhou said at a ceremony held to celebrate the release of a book about the core values.

Zhou, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, asked police officers to remain sober-minded and take a firm and clear-cut stance on cardinal issues of right and wrong.

At any time and under any circumstance, police officers should maintain a high level of political unity with the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the general secretary, said Zhou, also secretary of the Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs of the CPC Central Committee.

Zhou called on police officers to persistently safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the masses. He said they should put people first and tackle issues that people are most concerned about, such as public security, the protection of rights and interests, social fairness and justice.

He asked police officers to improve the credibility of law enforcement and avoid corruption.