event of an incident or accident. In addition to patrol cars, there are approximately 80 police helicopters and around 180 police boats stationed nationwide cooperating with the communications command center and patrol cars. Taking advantage of their mobility, they patrol areas, collect information in the event of an incident or accident, collect traffic information, and conduct rescue activities in case of disasters, including mountain accidents.

## (4) Railway Police Unit Activities

The railway police post their main and garrisoned units at railway stations to patrol and safeguard trains, stations, and other railway facilities including the surrounding area to prevent crimes such as sexual assault, pick pocketing, luggage theft, and to arrest perpetrators. Furthermore, they take the necessary measures, such as escorting females on board trains and policing the cars, when they receive reports regarding sexual assaults at the female assault consultation place etc.

### 5. Koban and Chuzaisho Activities

Koban and chuzaisho are making efforts to gain an understanding of the conditions in the area under their jurisdiction as well as to grasp and respond to the needs of the residents. These efforts are being made through various activities including neighborhood patrols and routine visits to homes. In addition, by constantly maintaining security day and night and through activities in response to various police matters, koban and chuzaisho serve to dispel unease among the Japanese people by functioning as a foothold for the safety and security of community residents.

As of April 1, 2010, there were 6,232 koban and 6,847 chuzaisho nationwide.

### (1) Patrol, Standing Watches etc. 1) Patrols

In response to the people’s requests to reinforce patrols, community police officers are focusing patrols on the areas and at times of the day when crime rates are high in order to prevent crimes or accidents as well as to crackdown criminals. During patrols, police officers undertake activities including the questioning of suspicious individuals, becoming familiar with dangerous areas, conducting crime prevention counseling for families and businesses situated in the areas of high crime and distributing information through patrol cards.

## 2 ) Vigilance through Standing Watches, etc

Community police officers stand on guard outside koban, chuzaisho, and other facilities to exercise vigilance. Additional measures include stationed watches conducted at regular intervals in locations where people gather such as stations and busy shopping areas, and locations with high crime rates.

## 3 ) Enhancing the Performance of Duties

In order to bolster community police officers' work performance, in addition to implementing education and training aimed at improving police questioning, documentation, and other skills, individuals with excellent interrogation skills are selected and appointed as senior technical instructors by the NPA or as technical instructors of interrogation by Prefectural Police and work to improve the interrogation skills of community police officers as a whole through practical training.

In 2009, the number of persons arrested by community police officers for Penal Code offenses was 284,277, accounting for 85.4% of the total number of persons arrested for Penal Code offenses by the police.

## 4 ) Utilizing the Koban Counselors

As of April 1, 2010, approximately 6,200 koban counselors have been assigned to work in major koban in urban areas nationwide. The koban counselor does not possess the status of a police officer and works on a part time basis. Counselors are responsible for contacting police officers in the event of a crime or accident, listening to the resident's opinion and requests, receiving lost and found articles, writing and receiving complaints, and giving directions. Many of them are retired Prefectural Police officers with the knowledge and experience gained therein.

## (2) Activities in Cooperation with the Local Communities

## 1 ) Routine Visits to Homes

The community police officers make routine visits to places such as houses and offices in their assigned areas in order to prevent such events as crime, traffic accidents, and disasters, as well as to provide residents with guidance or information on important items and listen to their opinions and requests to ensure they have a safe and peaceful lifestyle.

## 2 ) Koban and Chuzaisho Liaison Councils

Koban and chuzaisho liaison councils are in place at 12,823 koban and chuzaisho nationwide as of April 1, 2010. There, community officers cooperate with the local community to prevent crimes and accidents by