promote the spread of motorcycles with theft prevention devices such as immobilizers, as part of the anti-theft measures.

## 5 ) Purse Snatching Countermeasures

In response to the high incidence of purse snatching cases, the police are focusing their efforts to provide instructions and counseling regarding safe ways to ride bicycles and recommended ways to carry bags, based on analysis of crime situation and methods employed. The dissemination of security devices, such as security buzzers and security nets attached to the front basket of bicycles, are promoted with the cooperation of the Crime Prevention Association and other related organizations.

## 6 ) Break-in Crime Countermeasures

In order to deter the occurrence of break-in crimes, the police strengthened the regulations against the possession of special break-in devices and special picking devices without legitimate reasons based on the Act on Prohibition of Possession of Special Unlocking Devices, enacted in September 2003. (Refer to Table 1-2). Moreover, the “Joint Session on the Development and Popularization of Building Components with High Performance in Crime Prevention”, which consists of the NPA; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and private entities concerned with building components, have been working to spread the use of building components with high performance in crime prevention since April 2004 by announcing the “Registry of Building Components for Crime Prevention”, which lists products that have been assessed as having a certain degree of performance in crime prevention, such as products that take five minutes or more to break into. As of the end of May 2009, 17 varieties of components and 3,921 items have been listed in the registry on the website. The NPA also established an NPA website “Smile Crime Prevention #110” (http://www.npa.go.jp/safetylife/seianki26/index.html) to promote comprehensive countermeasures for break-in crimes.

## 7 ) Countermeasures for Robberies Targeting Stores and Branch Offices

The occurrence of robbery cases targeting financial institutions remains at a high level. Owing to this, the police are providing crime prevention instructions to concerned institutions and organizations and establishing standards such as those for the security systems of financial institutions, store layout, and security equipment. In addition, police conduct crime prevention trainings and patrols by police officers. With the number of convenience stores and other stores open 24 hours increasing, late night robbery cases have been increasing drastically, primarily in urban areas. As a result, the police have formulated “Crime Prevention Standards” which provides stipulations on crime prevention systems, cash management methods, store layout, and other matters. Based on these standards, the police are providing crime prevention instructions.

### 3. Structural Crimes

## (1) Cases of Corruption in Politics and Administration

A number of money-related political and administrative corruption cases in violation of the Public Office Election Act have successively surfaced recently. These include cases of bribery, cases of fraudulent obstruction of bidding, and buying of influence by leaders of local public entities and assembly members.

The police are conducting investigation into these cases, applying various penal regulations depending on the situation of corruption. In 2008, the number of corruption cases in politics and administration cleared $ ^{1} $ was 77, an increase of 4 cases (5.5%) compared to the previous year.

Note 1: Multiple violations of the same kind carried out by the same suspect are counted as one case.