Chinese police must be more polite, more efficient and better dressed in the run-up to next year's Beijing Olympics or they will be punished, state media said on Sunday.

It is part of a Ministry of Public Security campaign to improve service as China begins the one-year countdown to the Games, which open on August 8 next year, the official Xinhua news agency said.

"Police who smoke, chew food, chat or use chilly words in front of the public will be immediately punished by inspectors on the spot," the report said.

"The inspection team will find out whether the police can take proper, immediate and effective actions when the public, especially foreigners, ask for help," it added.

"The inspection mainly deals with police who take a bad attitude towards the public and do not wear standard uniforms and insignia," Xinhua said.

The government is worried that "uncultured" behaviour like spitting in public and pushing will embarrass the country at next year's Olympics, and has been running campaigns to get people to be more "civilised".

The police have even threatened to detain fans who swear at football matches.