China has set up dozens of police stations around the world, including one in Australia, with a human rights group claiming they're using them to hunt down and retrieve dissidents. 

A new report from Safeguard Defenders, a human rights watchdog, revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has at least 54 'overseas police service stations' in 30 different countries.  

Chinese authorities say the stations provide services to citizens, such as renewing national identification cards, passports and drivers licences, by using facial recognition technology. (Pictured a Chinese officer on duty in Beijing)
Chinese authorities say the stations provide services to citizens, such as renewing national identification cards, passports and drivers licences, by using facial recognition technology. (Pictured a Chinese officer on duty in Beijing)© Provided by Daily Mail
Safeguard Defenders, a human rights watchdog, reported that the police stations have been used to intimated Chinese nationals to return home
Safeguard Defenders, a human rights watchdog, reported that the police stations have been used to intimated Chinese nationals to return home © Provided by Daily Mail

The Chinese police operation in Sydney was established by the communist party's Department of Public security in 2018, the ABC reports. 

An establishment ceremony for the station was covered by the Chinese press, but it flew under the radar in Australia.

Although the CCP claims the stations are meant to keep an eye on 'fraud' and provide services to citizens, such as renewing national identification cards, passports and drivers licences, by using facial recognition technology, a human rights group alleges that China has been using the program to track down dissidents and intimate them to return to their native country.

Laura Harth, campaign director for Safeguard Defenders, which released the new report, said people who oppose the Communist regime could be at risk, and their families too.

Spanish-based human rights agency Safeguard Defenders says Chinese 'contact points' also house Chinese police operations. Its campaign director, Laura Harth said people who have fled China - and their families - could be at risk
Spanish-based human rights agency Safeguard Defenders says Chinese 'contact points' also house Chinese police operations. Its campaign director, Laura Harth said people who have fled China - and their families - could be at risk© Provided by Daily Mail

She told the ABC that the Sydney 'contact point' was similar to China's overseas police stations in other countries.

'Every country is using different names … it seems that they use an already existing framework of United Front Work organisations around the world to build this extra functionality,' Ms Harth said.