○ Coordination and cooperation between crime prevention measures and town development

The wide array of entities involved in town development are sharing information on crime and other matters relating to local safety and security. These entities are coordinating and cooperating to promote the development of communities safe and secure from crime and other problems.

To that end, along with promoting development and management of public facilities, such as assuring illumination and visibility in consideration of crime prevention to accommodate unique local characteristics like school routes, residential areas, and commercial districts, it is especially necessary to assure a safe and secure environment for children and others most affected, for example by conducting anticrime patrols, installing security cameras, and using local buses as school buses. It is also necessary to create new structures aimed toward securing safety and security, for example by disseminating systems to evaluate the crime prevention performance of residences.

## ○ Promotion of coordination on countermeasures for terrorism and piracy

(Reinforcement of partnerships with concerned government bodies)

In order to forestall transnational organized crime like terrorism and smuggling and illegal immigration, it is especially important for Japan to strengthen border controls at its international airports, international seaports, and other points of entry and exit for people and goods. In the international distribution sector, the measures aimed toward both increased security and improved distribution efficiency must be considered.

In domestic public transportation like railways and bus routes as well, there are calls for those concerned at related government bodies and private businesses to work in close coordination to review and implement measures to forestall terrorism.

To assure the safety and security of ocean areas surrounding our country, along with promoting the replacement and improvement of the Japan Coast Guard's aging and obsolete patrol vessels and craft, aircraft, and other facilities, continued efforts must be made in matters like close information exchange with concerned government bodies and improved capacity for cooperative handling of incidents.

It is important to promote the unified efforts of those concerned at related government bodies and private businesses toward countermeasures for piracy as well. These efforts include the promotion of effective autonomous security measures for Japan-affiliated marine vessels and the development of emergency communication systems.

(International coordination and cooperation)

In order to promote more active, broad-based, and high-level international cooperation on international transport security, including measures against terrorism, Japan held the Ministerial Conference on International Transport Security in January, 2006 in Tokyo. It is important to continue to promote international efforts based on the direction Ministers reached consensus on in the conference.

With regard to measures against piracy and maritime terrorism as well, in addition to promoting the building of a framework for coordination as exemplified by the Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting, the Japan

Ministerial Conference on International Transport Security

Coast Guard has conducted joint exercises with coast guard agencies from various countries, reinforcing relationships of coordination and cooperation with several concerned countries. It is important, however, for the Japan Coast Guard to continue to further strengthen mutual cooperation and coordination partnerships.

In relation to the handling of accidents as well, international cooperation and coordination on response systems for accidental spills of hazardous liquid substances and other dangerous substances on the ocean must be strengthened.

In addition, based on Japan's experience with disasters within the country, we must provide technical assistance and dispatch experts to reinforce disaster response measures in other countries as well.