BEIJING - The number of criminal cases of polluters in China increased by 8.5 times in 2014, according to the work report of the Supreme People's Court.

Courts nationwide closed about 16,000 criminal cases related to environmental violations, said the report delivered Thursday to the national legislature at the ongoing annual session.

Civil cases about damage of pollution increased by 51 percent year on year, as 3,331 cases related to environment issues were closed by courts nationwide.

Last year China's judicial departments showed a firm hand against polluters and other offenders destroying the environment.

According to the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), also tabled for review, about 25,800 people were charged with crimes such as damaging the environment, illegal logging and illegal farming on grassland.

About 1,200 officials from environment departments were prosecuted for corruption, according to the SPP report.