Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
### 3. Strengthening and Enhancing Police Safety Consultations

In order to respond to consultations from citizens smoothly and efficiently, the police have set up general police consultation rooms in each Prefectural Police headquarters, as well as police safety consultation corners in every police station. In order to maintain the consultation structure, the police assign police personnel as well as experienced former police personnel as part-time police safety consultants to these consultation spaces.

Additionally, dedicated lines for police consultation have been set up at the NPA and Prefectural Police headquarters, making it more convenient to consult the police by dialing a national line # (pound) dial 9110 $ ^{1} $ which automatically connects to this service.

The police are working to prevent crimes before they occur by prosecuting cases where the matter under consultation is perceived to be a punishable offense. Even in cases where there is no infringement of penal regulations, the police offer crime prevention advice and instruct and warn the concerned party as necessary.

Moreover, in cases where the matter under consultation can be handled properly by an organization outside the police department, police are working to shift the matter smoothly to the appropriate organization.

Note 1: Also accessible with mobile phones. However, it cannot be used through dial phones or certain types of IP phones, therefore a special line for police safety consultation is publicized on the NPA website for general fixed-line phones.

Diagram 1-46 Breakdown of Consultations (2008)
4. Promoting Efforts to Build Safe and Secure Communities Nationwide

## (1) Cooperation between the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime and Urban Renaissance Headquarters

In recent years there has been an increasing trend amongst community residents throughout the country to take it upon themselves to try to maintain the safety and security of communities rather than just relying on police. In support of such independent community activities, and in order to promote nationwide efforts to build safe and secure communities with cooperation between the public and private sectors, in June 2005, the government held a joint conference between members of the Ministerial Meeting concerning Measures against Crime and the Urban Renaissance Headquarters. There they decided on the “Nationwide Plan for Building Safe and Secure Communities” and the urban renaissance project, “Rebuilding of Safe and Secure Urban Areas through Coordination and Cooperation between Crime prevention Measures and Community Planning,” and agreed to promote them both in unison.

## (2) Promoting New Policies Based on the Nationwide Plan for Building Safe and Reassuring Communities

The importance of building safe and reassuring communities was well recognized at the Ministerial Meeting concerning Measures against Crime held in December 2005. In order to spread the momentum to further promote and spread this throughout the country, as well as to deepen the awareness and understanding of citizens, 11 October was designated as “Building of Safe and Reassuring Communities Day”. It was also decided that any group or individual who contributed toward the realization of this aim of “Building Safe and Reassuring Communities” shall receive an award from the Prime Minister.

Thus, on 10 October 2008, as in 2006 and 2007, 10 organizations and one individual were felicitated by the prime minister at his residence.

In 2008, the following events related to “Building Safe and Reassuring Communities Day” were held:

## 14 October

On 14 October, the “Workshop on Building Safe and Reassuring Communities” was held for autonomous bodies that have been actively making efforts towards crime-resistant urban development to present and exchange opinions (held by the Japan Urban Security Research Institute, sponsored by the NPA).

## 25 October

Information of activities undertaken by such nationwide crime prevention volunteer groups was publicized on 25 October in the “Crime Preventing Voluntary Forum 2007” (held by the NPA).

## (3) Promoting Comprehensive Measures to Revitalize Shopping and Entertainment Districts

Based on the “Nationwide Plan for Building Safe and Reassuring Communities” and the urban renaissance project “Rebuilding Safe and Secure Urban Areas through Coordination and Cooperation between
hunting guns and air guns licensed for possession by Prefectural Public Safety Commissions based on the Firearms and Swords Control Act (hereafter called the Firearm Control Act) is 308,667 and 152,298 people have licenses. The police are making efforts to conduct appropriate evaluations for licensing and administrative measures to eliminate disqualified people. In 2008, the number of requests for a license denied was 26 and the number of cases in which licenses were revoked was 173.

Additionally, the police conduct thorough instruction on the appropriate handling and safekeeping of firearms through seminars, as well as conduct yearly general inspections in order to prevent accidents and thefts involving hunting guns.

In 2008, after the shotgun killing case in Sasebo City, Nagasaki, the “Overall Review on 300,000 Guns and 170,000 Persons” campaign was implemented. It was

targeted at all permitted guns at Prefectural Police as well as everyone who possessed guns. The NPA implemented the “Overall Review on Firearms Administration” to review firearms administration through a wide perspective.

Given the results of the overall review and the random assault incident using a dagger which occurred in Chiyoda ward, Tokyo, in December, 2008, a law partially revising the Firearm Control Act, including the strengthening of firearms regulations and sharp objects regulations, was passed and enacted. A regulation prohibiting the possession of blades 5.5 cm or longer and a partial regulation relating to the strengthening of firearms regulations were put into force on 5 January, 2009 and 1 June, 2009 respectively.

## 2 ) Measures against Hazardous Materials

The “Act on Control of Explosives,” the “Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medication for Patients Suffering from Infectious Diseases”, and the “Act on the Prevention from Radiation Hazards due to Radioisotopes and Others” stipulate that the transportation of explosives, specified pathogens, radioactive materials and other such hazardous materials be reported to Prefectural Public Safety Commissions.

In order to transport such hazardous materials safely, the police give guidance and instructions to related professionals beforehand, as well as carrying out inspections of places at which the materials are kept to prevent trespassing, theft, and illegal outflow.

Table 1-20 Situation of Transportation Reports and Inspection (2008)
Category	Number of Transportation Reports Received (cases)	Received Number of Inspection Conducted (cases)
Explosives	42,247	21,412
Specified Pathogens	46	23
Radioisotopes and Others	1,206	3
Nucelar Fuel Materials	678	26

### 8. Fostering and Utilizing the Industry of Community Safety

## (1) Fostering Private Security Businesses

Private security business have been established as private community safety services whose operations cover a broad range of fields including facility security, crowd security, traffic guidance security, cash delivery security and body guarding. They also include residential security system equipment, which has been spreading and growing in popularity. Security is also being provided at facilities such as airports and nuclear
power plants that are likely targets for terrorist attacks. By supervising private security businesses and imposing administrative penalties on firms that conduct inappropriate operations, the police work to ensure the appropriate operation of security businesses.

## (2) Prevention of Distribution of Stolen Goods through Antique Dealers and Pawnbrokers and Recovery of Damages

supplied with high-quality security equipment.

Considering the high probability that stolen goods and others will be brought to antique dealers and pawnbrokers, the “Antique Dealing Act” and the “Pawnbrokers Business Act” stipulate various measures for dealers. These laws prevent an influx of stolen and other such goods into the market as well as aiding in the discovery of stolen goods once they enter the market, thereby facilitating the prevention of theft and other crimes, as well as the recovery of the damages. Moreover, antique dealer and flea market vendor associations are conducting training programs to teach managers of business and flea markets how to determine whether an antique is fraudulent. The police are assisting in this effort by dispatching instructors.

## (3) Cooperation with the Security Equipment-Related Industry

The police are supporting the development of security equipment by providing members of the security industry with the latest information on the criminal conditions and analytical results of modus operandi so that security equipment market will be

Moreover, general security equipment engineers $ ^{1} $ and those employed by Japan Security Systems Association are playing an active role as experts with specialized knowledge and skills related to the design, construction, and maintenance of security equipment. The police are supporting this association by enhancing training courses for security equipment engineers and other personnel, as well as encouraging prefectures to establish security equipment engineer associations.

## (4) Promoting Proper Detective Businesses

The “Act on Promoting Proper Detective Businesses” was established on June 2007 for the purpose of ensuring their appropriate operation and contributing to the protection of individual rights and profit. As well as understanding the state of the detective industry, the police also take strict measures against any illegal activities to promote the proper conduct of detective operations.

Note 1: As of 1 January 2009 there were approximately 250 general security equipment engineers, and 18,000 security equipment engineers.
### Section 4. Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency and Fostering Wholesome Development

### 1. Juvenile Delinquency Overview

## (1) Situation of Juvenile Delinquency

The number of juvenile Penal Code offenders in 2008 decreased for five consecutive years, falling below 100,000 for the first time in 52 years since 1956. However, the number of juvenile Penal Code offenders arrested for every 1,000 persons in the same age group remains at a high level at 5.2 times that of adults (2.5 persons).

Although the number of juvenile offenders under the age of 14 receiving police guidance has decreased in 2008, the situation still does not allow optimism. The number of misconduct juveniles receiving police guidance has decreased since last year, but has remained above 1 million since 2002.

• The number of juvenile Penal Code offenders arrested in 2008: 90,966 (a decrease of 12,258 (11.9%) from the previous year)

• The percentage of juveniles accounting for all Penal Code offenders arrested: 26.8% (a decrease of 1.4 points from the previous year)

• The number of juvenile Penal Code offenders arrested for every 1,000 persons in the same age group in 2008: 12.4 (a decrease of 1.4 persons from the previous year)

Diagram 1-54 Trends in the Number of Juveniles Arrested for Penal Code Offenses as a Proportion of the Population (1949-2008)

Table 1-21 Trends in the Number of Law-breaking Juveniles under the Age of 14 Receiving Police Guidance (1999-2008)

Year	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Category
Total (persons)	22,503	20,477	20,067	20,477	21,539	20,191	20,519	18,787	17,904	17,568
Felonious offenses	173	174	165	144	212	219	202	225	171	110
Violent offenses	1,507	1,869	1,696	1,613	1,467	1,301	1,624	1,467	1,425	1,347
Larceny offenses	16,968	14,840	14,128	14,257	14,448	13,710	13,336	11,945	11,193	11,356
Intellectual offenses	21	30	37	31	39	46	57	63	55	65
Moral offenses	81	95	110	131	132	116	116	117	138	137
Other Penal Code offenses	3,753	3,469	3,931	4,301	5,241	4,799	5,184	4,970	4,922	4,553
Table 1-22 Trends in the Number of Misconduct Juveniles Receiving Police Guidance (1999-2008)

Year	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Category
Total (persons)	1,008,362	885,775	971,881	1,122,233	1,298,568	1,419,085	1,367,351	1,427,928	1,551,726	1,361,769
Wandering at midnight	328,248	307,112	370,523	475,594	577,082	669,214	671,175	719,732	795,430	732,838
Smoking	492,372	417,053	437,988	480,598	542,214	575,749	545,601	557,079	602,763	497,658
Others	187,742	161,610	163,370	166,041	179,272	174,122	150,575	151,117	153,533	131,273

## (2) Chief Characteristics of Juvenile Delinquency in 2008

1) Juvenile Penal Code Offenders

The number of juvenile Penal Code offenders arrested in 2008 is shown in Table 1-23, and the number of offenses in each crime category excluding moral offenses has decreased from the previous year. However, the spate of major crimes committed by juveniles has drawn society’s attention.

Table 1-23 Trends in the Number of Arrests by Crime of Juvenile Penal Code Offenders (1999-2008)

Year	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Category
Total (persons)	141,721	132,336	138,654	141,775	144,404	134,847	123,715	112,817	103,224	90,966
Felonious offenses	2,237	2,120	2,127	1,986	2,212	1,584	1,441	1,170	1,042
Violent offenses	15,930	19,691	18,416	15,954	14,356	11,439	10,458	9,817	9,248
Larceny offenses	86,561	77,903	81,260	83,300	81,512	76,637	71,147	62,637	58,150
Intellectual offenses	561	584	526	632	784	1,240	1,160	1,294	1,142
Moral offenses	409	429	410	347	425	344	383	346	341
Other Penal Code offenses	36,023	31,609	35,915	39,556	45,115	43,603	39,126	37,553	33,301

## 2 ) Repeat Offenders

The number of juvenile Penal Code repeat offenders in 2008 has decreased for the fifth year running. The number of repeat offenders as a proportion of the population $ ^{1} $ has similarly decreased, though it is 3.6 times (1.1) that of the population of adult repeat offenders.

Note 1: The number of repeat offenders per 1,000 members of the population in the same age group

Diagram 1-55 Trends in the Number and Proportion of Juvenile Penal Code Repeat Offenders (1999-2008)
## (3) Cooperation with Juvenile Police Volunteers

As of 1 April 2009, the police have commissioned approximately 53,000 juvenile guidance officials $ ^{1} $ , 400 support personnel for juvenile police $ ^{2} $ , and 6,800 juvenile guidance committee members $ ^{3} $ and other juvenile police volunteers throughout Japan to work together in street guidance activities and other activities to promote the wholesome development of juveniles.

Note 1: It is engaged in a wide delinquency prevention activity including the street guiding activity and the environmental clean-up activity.

2: It is engaged in the consultation guidance to prevent delinquency by separating child from delinquency group.

3: It is engaged in the child guiding activity against businessman from the amusement industry and child advice activity for defending the child from the influence of harmful entertainment environment after receiving the request from the Prefectural Public Safety Commission based on the Adult Entertainment Business Act.

## (4) Measures against Juvenile Crime

The police are enhancing and strengthening the investigative structure of juvenile crime by reinforcing the number of police officers in charge of juvenile crime by devoting a team of investigators by organizing them into juvenile crime special investigation units and other measures. Juvenile crime instruction officers have also been assigned to the TMPD and Prefectural Police Headquarters to provide instructions to police stations on matters regarding juvenile crime investigations, especially with respect to characteristics of juveniles and trials of juvenile crimes and so on.
### Chapter III. Securing Safe and Pleasant Traffic

### Section 1. Traffic Situation in 2008

## (1) Situation of Traffic Accidents

## 1 ) Overview

In 2008, the number of fatalities from traffic accidents was 5,155, marking a decrease for the eighth consecutive year, as well as a further reduction from last year when for the first time in 54 years since 1953 the figure was below 6,000. The number of accidents and number of injured have also gone down for four consecutive years, and are now below 1 million.

· Number of accidents in 2008: 766,147 cases (down 66,307 from the previous year (8.0%))

• Number of fatalities in 2008: 5,155 persons (down 589 from the previous year (10.3%))

· Number of injured in 2008: 945,504 persons (down 88,941 from the previous year (8.6%))

· Number of fatalities within 30 days from the time of accident in 2008: 6,023 (down 616 from the previous year (9.3%))

· Number of driver’s license holders at the end of 2008: 80,447,842 (up 577,346 from the previous year (0.7%))

• Number of Automobiles owned at the end of 2008: 90,827,260 vehicles (down 338,860 from the previous year (0.4%))

· Number of kilometers driven by the end of FY2007 (distance traveled by automobiles): 763.6 billion kilometers (up 1.0 billion kilometers from the previous year (0.1%))

Diagram 3-1 Trends in the number of Accidents, Fatalities, Injuries, Automobiles Owned, Driver’s License Holders, and Distance Traveled

Note: The number of automobiles owned and the distance traveled (100 million kilometers) are provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

## 2 ) Fatal Accidents Situation

Among fatalities while bicycle riding, the elderly $ ^{1} $ occupy 34.3%.

Youths $ ^{2} $ accounted for the highest number of fatalities caused while riding on two-wheeled motor vehicles, amounting to 32.1% of two-wheeled motor vehicles fatalities).

Those over 75 years of age accounted for the highest number of fatalities caused while riding bicycles, amounting to 36.7% of the total bicycle fatalities).

Those of over 75 years of age accounted for the highest number of pedestrian fatalities, amounting to 47.3% of the pedestrian fatalities).

Note 1: Indicates 65 years of age or over.

2: Between 16-24 years of age.
Diagram 3-2 Fatalities by Situation and Age Group (2008)

## (2) Reasons for the Decrease in Fatalities in Recent Years

The decline in fatalities in the recent years is due to the following factors: a rise in the rate of seatbelt users bringing down the degree of injuries, a decrease in the number of vehicular accidents due to over speeding, a decrease in extreme and highly dangerous accidents; and a decrease in the percentage of traffic violations committed by pedestrians resulting in casualties.

## 1 ) Rise in the Rate of Seatbelt Users

In 2008, the rate of fatalities among non-seatbelt users was 11 times more than that of seatbelt users. Thus, wearing seatbelts can be recognized as contributing to reduce the number of accident fatalities. The rate of seatbelt-users has been steadily on the rise since 1993 and it is believed to be one of the factors in lowering the number of fatalities among automobile drivers/passengers.

Diagram 3-3 Trends in Seatbelt User Rates and Fatality Rates (while on board) (1999-2008)

## 2 ) Decrease in the Pre-accident Speed of Vehicles

In 2008, the fatality rate in accidents involving high speed over 80 km/h is 42.2 times higher than those at below 80 km/h. The decrease in accidents while driving at high speed is thought to be a factor that contributes to the decrease in the number of fatalities.

Diagram 3-4 Trends in the Number of Traffic Accidents by Hazard Perception Speed on Open Roads (1999-2008)

Note.1: A value of 100 was set for 1999 in the index.

2: Hazard perception speed is the speed at the moment in which the driver of an automobile or moped recognizes the hazard posed by another vehicle, person, parked vehicle or object.

## 3 ) Decrease in Extreme and Highly Dangerous Accidents

In 2008, the fatality rate of accidents due to drunk driving and maximum speed limit violations in comparison with the overall level is 7.2 times and 16.0 times higher, respectively. The great decrease in these accidents is seen as one reason for the decrease in the number of fatalities.

Diagram 3-5 Trends in the Composition Ratio and Number of Fatalities Caused by Accidents Resulting from Drunk Driving / Maximum Speed Violations (1999-2008)

Note 1: A value of 100 was set for 1999 in the index

2: Composition ratio of driving while intoxicated (speed limit violation) = total number of accidents caused by driving while intoxicated (speed limit violation) resulting in bodily harm (vehicle larger than a moped) ÷ total number of accidents resulting in bodily harm (vehicle larger than a moped) × 100

## 4 ) Observance of Regulations by Pedestrians

Looking at whether a violation was committed or not in pedestrian fatalities in 2008, the fatality rate in cases where violations were committed was 4.6% and cases were violations were not committed was 1.3%. Although the number of casualties among passengers has gradually decreased in recent years, the
composition ratio of violations committed has also been on a decrease, which is seen as a reason for the drop in the number of fatalities among pedestrians.

Diagram 3-6 Trends in the Number of Pedestrian Fatalities and Composition Ratio of Violations Resulting in Pedestrian Fatalities or Injuries (1999-2008)

violators (pedestrians) ÷ number of fatalities and injuries (pedestrians) ×100

Note 3: The composition ratio for pedestrian violators does not include cases where the other party's vehicle is a light vehicle such as a bicycle.