In particular, measures are being taken to prevent information leaking from external recording mediums. For example, the use of external recording medium has been limited. A file server that enables the sharing of information even without using external recording mediums $ ^{1} $ is also being maintained, as well as introducing a system that automatically encrypts information entered in external recording mediums.

Note 1: A file server that shares data saved on recording mediums with other computers on the network.

### 2. Police Activities Open to the People

## (1) Police Station Councils

The opinions and desires of the people must be sufficiently understood when the police are conducting a variety of crime and traffic accident prevention activities in the community. Also, the understanding and cooperation of residents are essential if police activities are to yield results.

For that reason, Police Station Councils exist as a basic rule in every police station in Japan. They are a place for the Chief of the Police Station to listen to residents' opinions regarding police operations, and are used as a means of seeking the understanding and cooperation of the people. The PPSC appoints residents under their police station's jurisdiction as well as employees from local public entities, schools, and others eligible to express opinions and desires on community safety issues as Police Station Council members. As of June 1, 2010, Police Station Councils had been set up in 1,181 police stations, with a total of 10,673 members.

## (2) Information Disclosure

Based on NPA Instructions Announcement Standards, as a basic rule the NPA makes its commands and policies known to the public and posts them on the NPA website. A reading room has also been established where Police White Papers and statistics, as well as press releases and other written materials, are available for general perusal based on the Act on the Disclosure of Information Possessed by Administrative Organs.

The number of requests for the information and decision of disclosure based on the Act on the Disclosure of Information Possessed by Administrative Organs against the National Public Security Commission and the National Police Agency in FY2009 is shown in Table 5-6.

Disclosure Request	Decision
Full Disclosure	Partial Disclosure	No Disclosure
National Public Safety Commission	11	4	1	4
National Police Agency	143	106	28	9

## (3) Personal Information Protection

The NPA have been working toward the appropriate handling of personal information in their possession by establishing instructions for the management of personal information, as well as creating an administrative system for personal information.

The number of requests for the information and decision of disclosure based on the Act on the Protection of Personal Information Possessed by Administrative Organs against the National Public Security Commission and the NPA in FY2009 is shown in Table 5-7.

Table 5-6 Number of Requests for the Information in FY2009 (Personal Information Protection)

Disclosure Requests	Decision
Full Disclosure	Partial Disclosure	No Disclosure
National Public Safety Commission	1	0	0	1
National Police Agency	12	1	0	5

Note: Due to the inclusion of unprocessed requests as they are

withdrawn after the disclosure requests have been accepted, the number of processed requests are different.