The Outline of the Police System and the Community Police in Japan

The Japanese Experience with the Koban Systemand Other Measures to Create Safer Community

OKABE MasakatsuOKABE Masakatsu

Police SuperintendentPolice Superintendent

Deputy DirectorDeputy Director

Police Policy Research CenterPolice Policy Research Center

National Police Academy, Tokyo, JAPANNational Police Academy, Tokyo, JAPAN

RESPONSIBILITIES

POLICE LAW stipulatesPOLICE LAW stipulates

Protecting life, persons, and property of an individualProtecting life, persons, and property of an individual

Preventing, suppressing and investigating crimesPreventing, suppressing and investigating crimes

Apprehension of suspectsApprehension of suspects

Traffic enforcementTraffic enforcement

Maintaining public safety and orderMaintaining public safety and order

Public Safety Commission

National Public Safety CommissionNational Public Safety Commission controls National Police Agencycontrols National Police Agency

Prefectural Public Safety CommissionPrefectural Public Safety Commission controls Prefectural Policecontrols Prefectural Police

Japanese Police System

National Police Agency (NPA)National Police Agency (NPA)

47 Prefectural Polices 47 Prefectural Polices

Each prefectural police force is independent each other.Each prefectural police force is independent each other.

NPA coordinates the activities of prefectural police. NPA coordinates the activities of prefectural police.

COMMUNITY POLICE

Patrol Police, Outside Duty PolicePatrol Police, Outside Duty Police

↓ since 1992 ↓ since 1992

Community PoliceCommunity Police

THE MAIN FEATURES OF

COMMUNITY POLICE IN JAPAN Service to the community Service to the community Maintain the good relationship with the Maintain the good relationship with the

local communitylocal community Grasp the needs of residentsGrasp the needs of residents Supply the appropriate information about Supply the appropriate information about

community safetycommunity safety

KOBAN & CHUZAISHOas “COMMUNITY SAFETY CENTERS”14,438 KOBANS & CHUZAISHOS14,438 KOBANS & CHUZAISHOS

6,556 KOBANS6,556 KOBANS 7,882 CHUZAISHOS7,882 CHUZAISHOS

THE THREE SHIFT SYSTEM

Full-day duty (from morning to the next morning)Full-day duty (from morning to the next morning)

Off duty (the day following the full-day duty)Off duty (the day following the full-day duty)

Day-duty (from morning to evening)Day-duty (from morning to evening)

Activities as “Community Safety Centers”

Vigilance at Police BoxVigilance at Police Box PatrolPatrol ““Routine Visits” to Homes and Work PlacesRoutine Visits” to Homes and Work Places

Handling of Lost ArticlesHandling of Lost Articles Publication of Information PamphletsPublication of Information Pamphlets

Important Role of Patrol and Police Questioning Community Police Officers arrested Community Police Officers arrested

269,501 (77.5%) 269,501 (77.5%)

of the total of arrested for Penal Code Offencesof the total of arrested for Penal Code Offences

• For serious offences (murder, armed robbery, etc),For serious offences (murder, armed robbery, etc),

Community Police Officers arrested 2,620 (33.9%)Community Police Officers arrested 2,620 (33.9%)

of the total.of the total.

(in 2002)(in 2002)

Improving the Koban’s Ability as “Community Safety Centers” Koban Chief System and Bloc Operation of Koban Koban Chief System and Bloc Operation of Koban

Assignment of Koban Consultants (Retired Police Officers)Assignment of Koban Consultants (Retired Police Officers)

““Koban and Chuzaisho Liaison Councils”Koban and Chuzaisho Liaison Councils”

13,644 liaison councils (in 2002)13,644 liaison councils (in 2002)

Improvements in Facilities and Equipment of Police BoxesImprovements in Facilities and Equipment of Police Boxes (Community Room, Hot-Line telephone to police station)(Community Room, Hot-Line telephone to police station)

CONSULTATION SERVICE FOR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS

““Police Security Consultation”Police Security Consultation”

1,058,772 (in 2002)1,058,772 (in 2002)

EFFORTS IN PROTECTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN

For example ;For example ;

intensive patrolintensive patrol

meetingsmeetings

“ “Children’s 110 House”Children’s 110 House”

Stalking, Child Abuse, Domestic Violence

The Law to Control Stalking (May 2000)The Law to Control Stalking (May 2000)

The Law to Prevent Child Abuse The Law to Prevent Child Abuse

(October 2000)(October 2000)

The Law to Prevent Domestic ViolenceThe Law to Prevent Domestic Violence

(April 2001)(April 2001)

Finding and Protecting Runaways, Missing People, etc. 197,648 into protective custody (2002)197,648 into protective custody (2002)

for drunks, lost children and others required emergfor drunks, lost children and others required emergency protectionency protection

Runaways:Runaways:

102,880 search requests & 92,205 found (2002) 102,880 search requests & 92,205 found (2002)

EMERGENCY CALL “DIAL 110”

Communications Command CenterCommunications Command Center

Police Boxes Patrol CarsPolice Boxes Patrol Cars average Response Time : 7 minutes 2 secondsaverage Response Time : 7 minutes 2 seconds

Promoting Safe Communities Through Environmental Design

Coordination with Local GovernmentsCoordination with Local Governments

CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

Countermeasures against “Street Crime”

The remarkable increase of “Street Crime”The remarkable increase of “Street Crime”

““Street Crime Prevention/Repression Plan”Street Crime Prevention/Repression Plan”

since 2003since 2003

“COMMUNITY SAFETY ACTIVITIES”

Partnership among Various Actors such as;Partnership among Various Actors such as;

Crime Prevention AssociationsCrime Prevention Associations

Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs)Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs)

Community ResidentsCommunity Residents

PolicePolice

Local Governments etc.Local Governments etc.

Examples of Activities

Publishing “Community Safety News”Publishing “Community Safety News” PatrollingPatrolling Video Surveillance SystemsVideo Surveillance Systems Children’s 110 HouseChildren’s 110 House Distributing Potable BuzzersDistributing Potable Buzzers Crime Maps (on the internet )Crime Maps (on the internet ) Guideline concerning Crime Prevention in Guideline concerning Crime Prevention in

Collective Housing Collective Housing

“JUVENILE SUPPORT CENTER”

““Juvenile Support Center”Juvenile Support Center”

in cooperation with the local communityin cooperation with the local community

(schools, parents, volunteers, local governments,etc)(schools, parents, volunteers, local governments,etc)

Preventing Drug Abuse by Juveniles

Classes for prevention of drug abuse(2002)Classes for prevention of drug abuse(2002)

by police officers in schoolby police officers in school

3,015 (55.1% of total) senior high schools3,015 (55.1% of total) senior high schools

5,432 (48.7% of total) junior high schools 5,432 (48.7% of total) junior high schools

Cleansing the Community Environment

Prostitution by using potable phonesProstitution by using potable phonesProstitution by using Internet Prostitution by using Internet -New Law to prevent them (2002)-New Law to prevent them (2002) Magazines, videotapes, computer softwareMagazines, videotapes, computer software

““Karaoke-boxes”Karaoke-boxes”

the influence of Yakuzathe influence of Yakuza

Juveniles’ Participation in Social and Sports Activities Classes (Judo and Kendo) at police stationsClasses (Judo and Kendo) at police stations

51,000 juveniles at 800 police 51,000 juveniles at 800 police stations(2002)stations(2002)

Private Security (Security Business)

The number of security companies 9,463The number of security companies 9,463

The number of security guards 436,810The number of security guards 436,810

(2002)(2002)

ConclusionThe Important Role of Community

Partnership among Various ActorsPartnership among Various Actors

Cooperation of CommunityCooperation of Community

Autonomy of Community ResidentsAutonomy of Community Residents