The Outline of the Police System and the Community Police in Japan The Japanese Experience with the Koban System and Other Measures to Create Safer Community OKABE Masakatsu Police Superintendent Deputy Director Police Policy Research Center National Police Academy, Tokyo, JAPAN

RESPONSIBILITIES POLICE LAW stipulates Protecting life, persons, and property of an individual Preventing, suppressing and investigating crimes Apprehension of suspects Traffic enforcement Maintaining public safety and order

Public Safety Commission National Public Safety Commission controls National Police Agency Prefectural Public Safety Commission controls Prefectural Police

Japanese Police System National Police Agency (NPA) 47 Prefectural Polices Each prefectural police force is independent each other. NPA coordinates the activities of prefectural police.

COMMUNITY POLICE Patrol Police, Outside Duty Police ↓ since 1992 Community Police

THE MAIN FEATURES OF COMMUNITY POLICE IN JAPAN Service to the community Maintain the good relationship with the local community Grasp the needs of residents Supply the appropriate information about community safety

KOBAN & CHUZAISHO as “COMMUNITY SAFETY CENTERS” 14,438 KOBANS & CHUZAISHOS 6,556 KOBANS 7,882 CHUZAISHOS

THE THREE SHIFT SYSTEM Full-day duty (from morning to the next morning) Off duty (the day following the full-day duty) Day-duty (from morning to evening)

Activities as “Community Safety Centers” Vigilance at Police Box Patrol “Routine Visits” to Homes and Work Places Handling of Lost Articles Publication of Information Pamphlets

Important Role of Patrol and Police Questioning Community Police Officers arrested 269,501 (77.5%) of the total of arrested for Penal Code Offences For serious offences (murder, armed robbery, etc), Community Police Officers arrested 2,620 (33.9%) of the total. (in 2002)

Improving the Koban’s Ability as “Community Safety Centers” Koban Chief System and Bloc Operation of Koban Assignment of Koban Consultants (Retired Police Officers) “Koban and Chuzaisho Liaison Councils” 13,644 liaison councils (in 2002) Improvements in Facilities and Equipment of Police Boxes (Community Room, Hot-Line telephone to police station)

CONSULTATION SERVICE FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS “Police Security Consultation” 1,058,772 (in 2002)

EFFORTS IN PROTECTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN For example ; intensive patrol meetings “Children’s 110 House”

Stalking, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence The Law to Control Stalking (May 2000) The Law to Prevent Child Abuse (October 2000) The Law to Prevent Domestic Violence (April 2001)

Finding and Protecting Runaways, Missing People, etc. 197,648 into protective custody (2002) for drunks, lost children and others required emergency protection Runaways: 102,880 search requests & 92,205 found (2002)

EMERGENCY CALL “DIAL 110” Communications Command Center Police Boxes Patrol Cars average Response Time : 7 minutes 2 seconds

Promoting Safe Communities Through Environmental Design Coordination with Local Governments CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

Countermeasures against “Street Crime” The remarkable increase of “Street Crime” “Street Crime Prevention/Repression Plan” since 2003

“COMMUNITY SAFETY ACTIVITIES” Partnership among Various Actors such as; Crime Prevention Associations Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs) Community Residents Police Local Governments etc.

Examples of Activities Publishing “Community Safety News” Patrolling Video Surveillance Systems Children’s 110 House Distributing Potable Buzzers Crime Maps (on the internet ) Guideline concerning Crime Prevention in Collective Housing

“JUVENILE SUPPORT CENTER” in cooperation with the local community (schools, parents, volunteers, local governments,etc)

Preventing Drug Abuse by Juveniles Classes for prevention of drug abuse(2002) by police officers in school 3,015 (55.1% of total) senior high schools 5,432 (48.7% of total) junior high schools

Cleansing the Community Environment Prostitution by using potable phones Prostitution by using Internet -New Law to prevent them (2002) Magazines, videotapes, computer software “Karaoke-boxes” the influence of Yakuza

Juveniles’ Participation in Social and Sports Activities Classes (Judo and Kendo) at police stations 51,000 juveniles at 800 police stations(2002)

Private Security (Security Business) The number of security companies 9,463 The number of security guards 436,810 (2002)

Conclusion The Important Role of Community Partnership among Various Actors Cooperation of Community Autonomy of Community Residents