with such measures are also being proactively carried out among local public entities, community residents, professionals in related fields, and others.

The initiatives of the police alone are not enough for the restoration of public safety. The police are promoting close cooperation with concerned organizations and groups and working with the public with the aim of once again making Japan “the safest country in the world.”

## (2) “Action Plan for the Realization of a Society Resistant to Crime 2008”

## 1 ) Background of the Formulation of the plan

In June 2008, the 11th Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime recognized that although in 2002 there had been approximately 2,850,000 incidents of crime in Japan, the worst of any year since the World War Two, this number had dropped to approximately 1,910,000 criminal offenses in 2007, the first time in 10 years that the number of offenses had dropped below 2 million. The arrest rate in 2007 had also recovered, to 31.7%. It was five years after the establishment of the old action plan, and that plan was showing definite results.

On the other hand, regarding the situation of public safety in the countryside, it is reported that there has been almost no decrease in the amount of money stolen through furikome fraud in the past four years and that there continue to occur vile acts one after another in each region. It is also reported that public opinion surveys show that the people continue to be anxious regarding crime.

In light of this situation, the Prime Minister instructed the Cabinet to establish a new action plan to replace the old action plan. Having received such instruction, each Ministry and Agency began discussion on the steps needed for the new action plan and carried out expert hearings 10 times. In order to understand the wide-ranging opinions of the people, procedures were also begun to call for opinions.

The new action plan was established at the 12 $ ^{th} $ Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime in December 2008.

## 2 ) The Content of the New Action Plan

The “Three Viewpoints for the Restoration of Public Safety” established in 2003 are thought to be vital for the further promotion of initiatives to restore public safety through the new action plan, and so have been upheld as anti-crime measures able to effectively respond to the changing nature of society. The foreword of the new action plan expresses the fundamental opinion of the government regarding the promotion of anti-crime measures, and identifies a total of 172 points (including overlapping points) within seven main topics which represent the special nature of the current situation of crime. The foreword states that it is not enough for public safety organizations to control crime, the comprehensive and sustainable implementation of wide-scale policy borne out of an understanding the social backgrounds and causes of crime would also contribute to an improvement in the mid-term improvement of public safety. Furthermore, the foreword states that by aiming to build mutual confidence in society, this kind of policy could also greatly improve the safety and peace of mind of the public.

The five-year goals of the new action plan are set as the achievement of a further decrease in crime, the alleviation of public anxiety regarding public safety and the true restoration of public order.

The police are promoting close cooperation with concerned organizations and groups and working with the public to promote initiatives based on the new action plan.

Diagram I-2 Seven Priority Issues of the “Action Plan for the Restoration of a Society Resistant to Crime 2008”