Police+System+and+the+Community+Police+In+Japan



Law enforcement in Japan

Overview Policing in Japan is provided by appointed law enforcement agents under the direction of the National Police Agency, which is also referred to as NPA. The Japanese police force is not controlled by central government but instead, run independently.

History The current Japanese policing style was established in 1874, this system was adopted and mirrored a more European-style civil police system. It was developed during the time of the Meiji Restoration, to help with the disturbances and to maintain order as Japan experienced revolution. During this reform, people’s differences influenced the disorder that caused Japan to look more carefully at their policing system. The goal with their police system was to consolidate the different beliefs of how policing and order maintenance should work, under the Emperor of Japan. During this time they analyzed the different systems of policing that existed and sought out a more uniform system that would allow for the, law enforcement agents to develop a modern and more unified system of policing.

The Community Police & Structure The way the Japanese view community police is much different than the way the western world would view community police. The Japanese community police would be equivalent to what we would consider acting officers in the community on a day to day basis.

The structure of the police in Japan is a hierarchical system in which the direct contact with civilians is left up to officers known as “Koban’s” and “Chuzaisho’s”. The Kobans are stationed in police boxes in urban areas throughout Japan and the Chuzaishos are stationed in police boxes in rural areas. The police boxes make first contact with citizens that may have problems. From there the Koban’s and Chuzaisho’s make contact with various larger police stations, to help when out sourcing is needed for a particular crime or issue. From there the police stations are allowed to make contact with headquarters where the regional command is stationed. From there the regional command makes contact with the national command if the problem must reach this level of officer.



There are approximately 6,600 Koban’s actively working in Japan and 9,000 Chuzaisho’s currently working in Japan. The Koban’s serve as a more active force because, most of the Japanese live in urban areas and with a larger population in urban areas there is an increase in the amount of crime that exist in these areas. Even though the Chuzaisho’s serve a less active area the number of Chuzaisho’s is much larger because, they cover a much larger area and a Chuzaisho jurisdiction could cover up to a 18 miles in distance. The Koban’s usually protect and serve a much smaller area with about .22 square miles.

On a day to day basis the Koban's and Chuzaisho are responsible for serving and protecting the neighborhoods in which they serve. They respond to burglaries, help with neighborhood watch, and provide service for those in need. They are not limited to these activities but also participate in fighting crimes and helping with criminal investigations.



Uniform



The Japanese Law Enforcement, subscribe to a uniform outfit that clearly identities each officer as an officer. For both male and female officers, the uniform is the same. The uniform is generally navy blue in color, and consist of a hat with the Japanese police emblem, a navy blue long sleeve shirt, and a navy blue vest. Navy blue pants and black steel toe combat boots are worn on the bottom. It is also typical for officers to wear white gloves when on duty.

Requirements for Law Enforcement  It is highly recommended that officers have formal education and that they participate in secondary education before pursing law enforcement as a career. In order to become a law enforcement officer, prospects are required to take a written test as well as a physical fitness test. If they successfully complete the written test and the physical fitness test they are sent to participate in basic training, where they learn the necessary skill set they need to be successful officers. After basic training they become acting officers, and start off as a Koban. There is room for advancement in this career if the officer is actively successful at the job he or she can be promoted to a higher ranking.

Links Contemporary Japanese Policing http://policing.oxfordjournals.org/content/1/2/196.full

Duties of the Police Units http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/emergency/koban.html

Information regarding Japanese Police Box & Community Police National Police Agency https://www.npa.go.jp/english/seisaku1/JapaneseCommunityPolice.pdf

Sources [|Public Safety Commission System and Police Activity Support]

[|Interpol Japan Page]

[|Japanese Community Police and Police Box System]

[|What Keeps the Japanese People Together]