Many "police officers" conducting security checks at the city government of Jiamusi, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province have recently been uncovered as security guards illegally wearing police uniforms with police ranks and ID numbers.

The "officers" turned out to be security guards from the city government's security office, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Although security guards wearing police uniforms is illegal, the uniforms' use was approved by city authorities, and the police ranks and IDs were issued by the local public security bureau, said Zhang Hongbin, director of the city's government office administration. "Thousands of petitioners forcibly entered city government buildings every year. The situation was out of control sometimes, even when the guards were wearing police uniforms," said Zhang.   

The guards also claimed that they have gained approval from local authorities to wear police uniforms.

"I've been using this police ID number and carrying a Class 3 police rank for nearly seven years," said a guard at the government building.

Zhang also said that the government building houses a "police station." However, its legal status and affiliation are obscure.

Yu Changhai, director of the local public security bureau, first denied the existence of the "police station," but then said that it was established in 2006 by oral decree after meetings between city officials. It was not given official approval by authorities, and there is no record of its registration at the provincial public security department.

"The police insignia, uniforms, equipment and certificates distributed to the security guards have been confiscated by the city public security bureau. We haven't heard about any punishment," a publicity officer at the city government told the Global Times Tuesday. 

Government security guards in Jiamusi began to wear police uniforms in 2001. A total of 36 of the guards were given police ranks and IDs in 2006, said the report.

China's People's Police Law stipulates that police insignia, uniforms, implements and certificates are for the exclusive use of police forces. No other individuals or organizations should hold or use them.