BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- China has forbidden courts from bringing defendants on trial in prison garb to avoid the practice prejudicing legal proceedings.

Courts are never allowed to ask defendants or appellants in custody to appear on trial wearing clothing with prison signs, the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said on Thursday in a document on court reform.

"The suspects are being accused but have not been confirmed as criminals, thus they can't be labeled as such," said SPC official He Xiaorong.

He said the SPC is "conducting close communication and coordination with the police and other authorities to implement this measure soon".