JAPAN POLICING SYSTEM

Historical Background:

In 1872, the Japanese government sent the first Superintendent General Toshiyoshi KAWAJI to
Europe to study the police system. He returned the following year, then established the Tokyo
Metropolitan Police Department in the Ministry of Interior in 1874. This was the first modern
police organization in Japan. Police power, at that time, was held by the national government. In
the process of democratization of Japan after World War II, the Public Safety Commission system
was established under the former Police Act enforced in 1948. This created a structure consisting
of national and municipal police with the aim of ensuring democratic management and
decentralization of police power. The former Police Act had an epochal significance in
democratizing the police. However, it had institutional shortcomings such as the existence of a
multitude of municipal police forces in parallel with the National Rural Police. This caused several
problems such as inefficiency of police force operations and low cost-effectiveness due to
geographical segmentation of the police units and unclear distinction of responsibilities between
the municipal police forces and the national government in terms of maintaining public peace
and order. Hence, the former Police Act was amended in its entirety into the present act in 1954
by retaining its merits and improving the institutional shortcomings. Consequently, the National
Police Agency was established and the present police system was formed

Structure and Organization:

Japan Policing System is semi-centralized. Japan’s police administration and organization is

an embodiment of two concepts: political neutrality and democratic control; the latter being
implemented through delegation of authority of local levels. The Police organization of Japan
comprises the National Public Safety Commission.

The Prefectural Police Departments are established for each Prefectures and have full
responsibility for regular police duties for their area of responsibility. These Prefectural Police
Department are primarily municipal police with their own police authority but their activities are
coordinated by National Police Agency and National Public Safety Commission.

National Police Agency as the central coordinating body for the entire system, the National Police
Agency determines general standard and policies; detailed direction of operations is left to the
lower echelons.

Community Policing

Community Police officers maintain vigilance day and night, and they are the first
responders to emergency calls from citizens. Through neighborhood patrols and routine home
visits, community police officers keep close relations with citizens. They ensure the safety and
peace of the community by preventing crimes, apprehending criminal suspects, controlling
traffic, offering guidance to juveniles, protecting lost children and providing counseling to
troubled citizens.

Koban and Chuzaisho are at the heart of police activities in Japan. A Koban (police box) is a place
where community police officers mainly carry out their work by a relatively small number of
police officers (3-5). There are also a residential There are also a residential police boxes called
Chuzaisho, which are usually staffed by a single officer.

Community Police Activities:

a. Vigilance
Is performed by standing in front or sitting inside these facilities, enabling the police
officers to respond immediately to any incidents. While keeping a constant watch, they
conduct a myriad of tasks such as receiving crime reports from citizens, handling lost and
found property, and providing counseling to
troubled citizens.
b. Patrol
Police officers patrol either on foot, by bicycle or by car in order to tackle and reduce
crime. While on patrol, they question suspicious persons, warn citizens in high-crime
areas, offer guidance to the juveniles, and protect lost children and the inebriated.
c. Routine Visits to Home and Workplaces

Community police officers assigned to Koban and Chuzaisho make regular visits
to households and offices (business facilities). During these visits, they give advice on crime and
accident prevention, listen to residents' concerns, and welcome suggestions for improvement of
police services. They also inquire about family compositions and how to contact the residents in
case of emergency.

d. Consultation for Citizens

General contact desks for consultations have been established in the Police
Administration Department of each prefectural police to enable the police to carry out
swift and steady organizational responses to consultations from citizens. According to the
nature of the issue, the police respond in collaboration with the relevant departments, and
take the necessary steps to relieve anxieties of the citizens seeking consultation, which
include giving warnings to or arresting the persons causing troubles.

Technology and Innovations

Japan is known for its innovative use of advanced technology in law enforcement,
combining traditional policing methods with cutting-edge tech to enhance public safety and
efficiency.

A. Analysis of Computer Systems and Electro-magnetic Records

1. Digital Forensics
The High-Tech Crime Technology Division with its Digital Forensic Center was
established in the NPA in April 1999, to provide the digital forensic services for
criminal investigations. The Digital Forensic Center specializes in conducting
advanced digital forensic examinations such as advanced malware analysis or
data recovery from damaged hard drives.
B. Infrastructure of Info-Communications
1. Infrastracture
Infrastructure of the police info-communications consists of multi-channel
microwave radio lines maintained by the police, and dedicated lines leased from
carriers. The police have developed various info-communication systems on the
basis of itsinfrastructure, including the telephone system, mailing system, and
multimedia databases among others.
2. Police Wide Area Network System (P-WAN)
P-WAN is a nationwide independent network system, which enables secured
information sharing and promotes efficiency of various police activities.
C. Operational Support
1. Communication Support System
The system consists of the “Dial 110” response, radio dispatch and
telephone dispatch desks. With advanced technologies, functions of the
dispatch systems have greatly improved. The latest dispatch systems adopt the
Car Locator and the Automated Mapping Systems which enable crime scenes to
be pinpointed on operation displays. In addition, a phone location display
system is now in operation

2. Investigation Support System

(a) Criminal Information Management System

The Criminal Information Management System stocks a
variety of information such as on stolen vehicles and missing
persons. Police officers on the street can immediately obtain
necessary information through this system.
(b) Automatic Number Plate Recognition System
The police occasionally carry out car inspections in search of
crime-related/stolen vehicles. In order to avoid time-consuming inspections
leading to traffic jams, the police have developed the Automatic Number Plate
Recognition System which reads the numbers on license plates and check them
against the database of stolen/wanted vehicle

(c) Criminal Investigation Support-Crime Analysis Tool System (CIS-CATS)

CIS-CATS enables police investigators to analyze factors such as locations of crime scenes, the
time period of crime occurrences, and characteristics of suspects in a comprehensive way by
using a wide range of information such as crime statistics, modus operandi and photographs of
suspects.

3. ) Driver’s License Data Management System

The Driver’s License Data Management System stocks data on

drivers’ licenses, issued by each Prefectural Public Safety Commission (PPSC). This system
enables management and provision of all traffic violations data in order to facilitate
administrative dispositions including suspension and revocation of drivers’ licenses.

Training and Recruitment

1. Recruitment Process

A. Eligibility:

 Applicants must be Japanese citizens.

 They must pass a competitive civil service exam, which varies by rank and police
prefecture.
 Minimum age is usually 18; maximum age limits vary (typically up to early 30s).

B. Entry Levels:

 Police Officer Candidate: High school or junior college graduates.

 Police Inspector Candidate: University graduates; this track leads to higher-ranking
positions and involves more academic training.

C. Physical and Mental Requirements:

 Physical fitness, vision, and psychological stability are assessed through medical exams
and physical fitness tests.

2. Training Process

A. Police Academies:

 Recruits undergo training at Prefectural Police Schools (for general officers) or the National
Police Academy (for inspectors and elite officers).

B. Training Duration:

 1 year for high school graduates.

 6 months for university graduates.
 Followed by on-the-job training in local police stations.

C. Curriculum:

 Academic subjects: Law, criminal procedure, human rights, public safety, ethics.
 Practical training: Martial arts (judo/kendo), firearms handling, arrest techniques, driving,
communication skills.
 Field training: Supervised duty in police boxes (koban) and patrol cars .

Crime Prevention Strategies

A. Law-abiding Mentality and Strong Ties in Society

Even the slightest offense should not be overlooked, and deep regrets for offenders should be
urged in order to foster a law-abiding mentality in society. Also, various efforts to promote social
ties to support people who feel isolated or alienated need to be enhanced.

B. Voluntary Activities in Crime Prevention

Voluntary activities for crime prevention in order to secure community safety have involved
many citizens and have widely developed into a national movement. The number of groups
engaged in crime prevention activities in 2019 was approximately 46,000. The police regard
these groups as indispensable partners in preventing crimes.

C. Promotion of Safe and Secure Urban Planning which takes Crime Prevention into Consideration

The police are promoting safe and secure urban planning which takes crime prevention
intoconsideration in order to create a safer society where citizens can feel secure and live
without fear of falling victim to crime. For example, this promotion includes installation of
security lights and CCTVs, and landscaping that does not impede visibility.

D. Quality Improvement and Operation Optimization of Community Safety Industry

The police are encouraging enhancement of the quality and the proper performance of the
community safety industry, particularly private security businesses, as they play a major role in
creating a crime-resistant society.

International Collaboration

a.Promoting International Cooperation

The Japanese police system along with its self-developed methods and techniques are of great
interest to nations around the world. We frequently receive requests for technical cooperation,
primarily from developing countries. The main purpose of the Japanese police’s international
cooperation is to support improvement of its partner countries’ capacities to fight against crime
and terrorism.

b. Training Programs on Police Activities

Japanese police promote technical cooperation by providing various training opportunities for
police officers from developing countries. The training programs including Organization
Management for Senior Police Officers and Community Policing are implemented in coordination
with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), or independently by the Japanese police.

c. Dispatch of experts

Challenges and Reforms

Japan’s police system faces issues like over-centralization, aging staff, and low recruitment.
Officers deal with high stress and mental health problems. There’s also a lack of diversity, poor
handling of sexual and domestic violence cases, and over-reliance on confessions during
interrogations. Cybercrime response is slow, and transparency is limited.

Proposed fixes include giving more power to local police, improving officer support, recruiting
more women and minorities, recording interrogations, training for sensitive cases, boosting
cybercrime units, and creating independent review boards to ensure accountability.

Comparison with the Philippines

Filipino law enforcement can learn from Japan's policing system by focusing on community
engagement, crime prevention, and maintaining a high level of professionalism and public trust,
as well as adopting a proactive approach to policing and utilizing technology effectively.