Dongguan police chief sacked after sex trade crackdown

Guangdong province Party authorities fired the Dongguan police chief in light of media reports about rampant prostitution in the city, China Central Television reported on Friday.

Yan Xiaokang, vice-mayor and the police chief of Dongguan, was sacked "for failing to assume his duty in cleaning up the city's sex industry", according to a decision by the standing committee of the provincial Party committee of Guangdong.

The report said Yan's failures caused prostitution to flourish in Dongguan, creating a bad image for the city, the report said.

Yan was appointed vice-mayor of Dongguan in August 2008 and has been the city's police chief since January 2012.

The Ministry of Public Security and Guangdong police recently launched an anti-prostitution crackdown in Dongguan, a city known for its thriving sex industry. As of Feb 10, city police have investigated 1,948 entertainment venues and have placed 162 people under investigation, the police said.