GUANGZHOU - Police officers in this city will help chengguan, or urban management officers, if they encounter violence when trying to inspect or demolish illegal structures.

Under a rule released by the Guangzhou government on Sunday, which took effect immediately, chengguan can request police assistance if they anticipate encountering violence when entering unauthorized buildings for investigations or demolition work.

Police are obliged to help the chengguan in these operations, the regulation said.

The 27-part regulation was passed by the Guangzhou government on Aug 9.

Lin Qi, deputy director of the Guangzhou Legislative Affairs Office, said police are required to arrive at the scene to help chengguan only when the buildings have been found to be illegal and the owners are likely to use violence to prevent chengguan from entering and demolishing the structures.

The police are also asked to protect chengguan against any violence they might encounter while performing their duties.

"I do not think that the police department's involvement would worsen any conflicts between chengguan and local residents, or that the police force's entry into illegal buildings would infringe on the privacy of the property owners," Lin said.

Police are also obliged to safeguard social order and protect chengguan who have been threatened by illegal building owners, she said.

"Police will not enter into local houses by force to help chengguan collect evidence," Lin added.

Li Tinggui, director of the Guangzhou Administrative Committee of Urban Management, said that chengguan were sometimes attacked in recent months as they investigated and demolished illegal buildings.

The southern metropolis has been the site of several violent acts directed against chengguan in recent months.

"The regulation, which has clearly stipulated the work of the chengguan and their responsibility, would further standardize the work of the chengguan and make our operations more transparent," Li told a news conference in Guangzhou on Sunday.

The new rules also direct chengguan to perform their duties in a polite and civil manner, he said

The police department's involvement in chengguan operations has stirred up controversy among local residents.

Wang Wenchong, a white-collar worker, said that police should be sent to the scene to maintain order.

"Chengguan do need the help of police when there is violence that, in breach of laws and regulations, will disrupt or has disrupted social security," he said.

But Chen Yingzhi, a local housewife, said that having the police take part in the clearing of illegal structures would only worsen conflicts between chengguan and residents.