# Topic IV. Police Initiatives for Large-scale Disasters

The Police improved the structure to promptly and adequately respond to any disasters and protect people's safety and security by gathering all the Police force

In addition to the Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake in June 2008 and the Iwate Coast Earthquake in July that same year, much damage was done to each region of the country by such disasters as localized and short-term heavy rainfall.

The police are in a state of readiness against natural disaster 24 hours-a-day. A Disaster Security Headquarters is quickly established during times of large-scale disasters $ ^{1} $ to organize Interprefectural Emergency Rescue Units as needed and coordinate the actions of prefectural police organizations to carry out a wide-range of activities such as victim rescue operations, transportation measures, crime-prevention measures, and disaster relief.

The police request the understanding and cooperation of the people in order to carry out activities smoothly.

## (1) Interprefectural Emergency Rescue Units

Building on the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in January 1995, Interprefectural Emergency Rescue Units were established in the prefectural police offices of each region in June of the same year in order to carry out interprefectural and expeditious support through effective police action at the time of large-scale disasters.

The Units are comprised of:

· Security Bureau forces which carry out victim rescue operations

Traffic Bureau forces which secure the transportation situation

· Criminal Investigation Bureau forces which carry out autopsies and notify bereaved families of the news.

Approximately 4,700 police officers are assigned to the Units. These officers undergo strict training at each prefectural police organization and every year participate in training meets at each Regional Police Bureau in an effort to raise the ability of the police regarding rescue operations. In April 2005, Police Team of Rescue Experts (P-REX) $ ^{2} $ , teams which possess extremely high disaster relief capabilities, were established within the Interprefectural Emergency Rescue Units of 12 prefectural police organizations. $ ^{3} $ Additionally, the police work regularly to strengthen the disaster relief system by preparing and maintaining equipment.

## (2) Police activities at times of large-scale disasters

For the police, it is considered common sense that in order to rescue as many victims of disaster as possible cooperation with local civilian groups and firefighters should be pursued. This does not just apply to rescue operations, for transportation countermeasures, anti-crime activities, and emergency support measures as well as the police utilize their powers of mobility and sustainability to work to protect the safety and peace of mind of the people no matter the change in situation through long-term activities. In addition, the police carry out international emergency support activities when there is a large-scale disaster overseas (see page 185).

Note 1: Earthquakes of shindo weak 6 or above (shindo strong 5 and above in the 23 wards of Tokyo) or other large-scale disasters

2: Police Team of Rescue Experts

3: Hokkaido, Miyagi, the NPA, Saitama, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Osaka, Hyogo, Hiroshima, Kagawa and Fukuoka

## 1 ) The establishment of a disaster preparedness system

A Disaster Security Headquarters is established in the NPA, the prefectural police organizations that have jurisdiction over disaster areas and Regional Police Bureaus during times of large-scale disasters to quickly collect information and establish a contact system corresponding to the scope of the disaster. The NPA coordinates communication between relevant organizations and disaster information collection as well as the dispatch of Interprefectural Emergency Rescue Units and helicopters in order to carry out interprefectural support.

For the Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake approximately 1,430 Interprefectural Emergency Rescue Unit personnel from 17 prefectural police organizations were dispatched over 8 days, and in approximately 60 helicopters were dispatched over 17 days.