Mexican police and military personnel systematically use arbitrary arrests of civilians in an effort to dissuade the detainees from carrying out their protests against social ills, a report by a local human rights organization charges.

Over the past three and a half years, 830 people have suffered abuses of authority by the police, justice officials and military personnel, according to the report by the Miguel Agustin Human Right Center to which EFE had access.

"Arbitrary arrests in our country are a continuous practice by civilian and military authorities," said the report by the non-governmental organization.

Most of the victims are leaders of indigenous and peasant organizations, journalists and officials of human rights groups active in Mexico's poorest regions.

The release of the report coincides with a visit to Mexico by United Nations human rights official Louis Joinet who is to present a report on arbitrary detentions at the next meeting of the U.N. Commission for Human Rights.