BEIJING (AFP) - China Monday appointed a new chief for its top police and judicial body, which tackles crime and security issues such as subversion, political dissent and social unrest. Police minister Meng Jianzhu has replaced Zhou Yongkang as head of the ruling Communist Party’s Politics and Law Commission, Xinhua news agency said in a short dispatch. The move follows last week’s party congress which saw President Hu Jintao stepping down from his top party post to make way for Xi Jinping. Zhou had been set to retire following two five-year terms in the post and Meng had long been seen as his successor. But the move has resulted in a downgrading of the commission.