Section 2: Developing Infrastructure for Criminal Arrests and Deterrence

## 1 Enhancing Investigation Capability

Once an incident occurs, it is necessary to conduct prompt and accurate initial investigations. Consequently, police have enhanced their activities by establishing mobile investigation units stationed at prefectural police headquarters and by organizing mobile identification units. In addition, in order to respond accurately to the rapidly increasing number of dead bodies and promote proper autopsies, police are reinforcing the autopsy system by increasing the number of coroners and other actions.

## Column: Approaches to Prevent Overlooking Criminal Deaths

From an international perspective, the current system for investigating cause of death in Japan is not always sufficient, and there have been cases in recent years where criminal deaths have been overlooked. Consequently, the NPA convened a meeting of experts and conducted a review of systems that should be in place, and the results were compiled into recommendations during this meeting and announced in April 2011.

In addition, the “Act on the Promotion of the System for Investigating Cause of Death”, which has the purpose of reviewing and implementing cross-sectional and comprehensive policies related to the promotion of the system for investigating cause of death, and the “Act on Investigations, etc. regarding Cause of Death and Identity of Dead Bodies handled by the Police, etc.”, which in relation to dead bodies handled by the police, contains clauses allowing physicians to conduct autopsies without the consent of the families following an explanation by a Police Station Chief to the family concerning the need for such an autopsy, were enacted in June 2012, in the 180 $ ^{th} $ Session of the National Diet.

## 2 Utilizing Scientific Techniques

In order to enhance investigative capabilities, police are utilizing DNA profiling, fingerprint and palm print identification systems and other scientific techniques in their investigations.

## 3 Ensuring Meticulous and Appropriate Investigations and Response to the Lay Judge System

To promote meticulous and appropriate investigations without over-dependence on interrogations, the police are striving to provide accurate leadership through senior investigators by establishing appropriate investigation policies based on the full understanding of the particulars of a case, promoting systematic investigations depending on the nature of a case, and ensuring that the necessary instruction and guidance has been given in relation to methods of interrogation based on the characteristics of the suspect and evidentiary materials, etc. in order to further advance the appropriateness of interrogations. In addition, as well as promoting various policies such as the implementation of educational training for personnel of all levels and supervisory systems for suspect interrogation, etc. in response to the lay judge system, police are striving to enable lay judges, who are not legal experts, to form accurate impressions, through the thorough collection of objective evidence that underlines the suspect's involvement in the crime, the creation of simple and clear investigation documents that lay judges can easily understand, and further ensuring the appropriateness of investigations.

## 4 Rapid Responses to Incidents/Accidents

With indiscriminate murder incidents and other police events occurring in wider variety and increased speed in recent years, initial police response is becoming increasingly difficult. To keep initial police responses in line with the demands of the times, the NPA are prioritizing the enhancement of communications and