BEIJING - China's police chief Meng Jianzhu has urged police staff to improve the ability to perform their duties in grassroots communities in order to better serve the people.

Meng, the minister of public security, made the remarks on Tuesday during his inspection tour in East China's Jiangsu province, where he visited and talked with police staff working in communities and other grassroots organs, the ministry said on Wednesday.

Communities are the focal point of strengthening social management as well as the foundation of safeguarding social stability, Meng said, noting that communities embrace the majority of Chinese police forces and most police tasks.

Efforts should be concentrated on communities, and the work of police stations should be focused on risk prevention, security management and safeguarding public order in areas under their jurisdiction, said Meng.

Regular security management should be combined with specialized campaigns for cracking down on crime to improve police coordination and the joint crime-fighting abilities, he said.