Suspects held in Chinese detention centres will be able to make appointments with lawyers via phone calls and the internet under new police measures designed to improve their service.

The Ministry of Public Scrutiny said in a statement that the measures should cut down the times that lawyers and relatives have to wait when visiting suspects, Chinese news agency Xinhua reports.

The service has already been adopted in some cities - including Beijing - with the police also developing a web site to further enhance the service.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-09/05/c_131829766.htm