Table 2-19 Trends in the Situation of Sending and Receiving the Information through ICPO (1999-2008)

Year Category	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Total Number (cases)	11,844	15,568	17,342	19,117	17,513	20,949	23,339	24,022	25,912	27,732
No. of transmissions from the NPA	2,123	2,468	2,585	2,787	2,831	2,708	2,266	2,741	2,732	2,394
No. of acceptances by the NPA	8,846	11,815	13,215	14,132	12,903	15,539	18,107	18,011	19,151	21,172
No. of acceptances of international arrest and search instructions	875	1,285	1,542	2,198	1,779	2,702	2,966	3,270	4,029	4,166

ICPO operates a database on stolen vehicles, stolen passports and suspects on international arrest and search instructions at the general secretariat in order to conduct more promptly and certainly the exchange of information among member countries/regions. The NPA also provides information on stolen vehicles, lost/stolen passports.

The NPA participates in a variety of meetings concerning measures against international crime syndicates organized by the ICPO, and also contributes to ICPO activities through implementation of investigative cooperation, dispatch of staff to the General Secretariat, and financial contributions, etc.

## 2 ) Consultations with the Public Safety Authorities of Other Countries

The NPA proactively participates in bilateral talks with public safety institutions of countries where a large number of international crimes that affect Japan are conducted or countries whose nationals commit crimes in Japan, and strives to enhance cooperation with these countries.

## 3 ) Negotiations with Various Countries to Sign the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (Refer to Page 186)

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties stipulate that mutual assistance is an obligation in the international comity, which means that mutual assistance can be anticipated to be carried out with even more certainty. Moreover, it enables the streamlining and acceleration of administrating affairs by having a central authority specified in the treaty as opposed to foreign ministers to establish direct contact amongst themselves regarding mutual assistance.

Japan had previously signed the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with America and South Korea and in December 2007, Japan signed the treaty with China, and with Hong Kong in May 2008.

The NPA is continuing negotiations with various countries to sign the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty as part of their efforts to strengthen the cooperation in investigations with foreign security institutions based on these Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties.

## (3) Tracking down Suspects Fleeing to Other Countries

The number of persons who have committed a crime in Japan and have fled to a foreign country (hereafter referred to as “suspects escaped to foreign countries”), or persons suspected of so doing, remains high. As suspects flee abroad, cooperation in investigations with foreign investigation institutes is often necessary. While such investigations may be difficult, the police are striving to promote measures as part of their rigorous efforts to prevent criminals from “getting away.”

The police endeavor to arrest suspects who pose the risk of fleeing abroad before they manage to do so by working with the Immigration Bureau. On the other hand, in cases where the suspects have already fled the country, the police work to confirm their identification or location with the cooperation of investigative agencies of relevant countries along the diplomatic route or ICPO route through mutual assistance based on the Mutual Assistance Treaties. Handover of suspects is requested based on extradition treaties once their location is identified. If a suspect has been deported from the country of escape, their custody is taken over on the aircraft over international waters to ensure their arrest. Besides this, depending on the nature of the case, police are also pressing for use of the Rule for Punishment of Escaped Suspect to Foreign Countries in the country to which suspects have escaped by providing investigation materials to that country’s investigative authority about the crime performed in Japan by the suspect.