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Security Police (Japan)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
VIP Protection Division[1]
Active13 September 1975 - present[2]
CountryJapan
AgencyTokyo Metropolitan Police Department
TypeClose protection
Part ofSecurity Bureau[3]
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
Common nameSecurity Police[1]
AbbreviationSP

The Security Police is the close protection division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.[1] Under the Security Bureau of the TMPD, the division is responsible for protecting domestic and foreign dignitaries on Japanese soil and abroad.[1][4]

The division's agents are commonly known as Security Police (SP) (セキュリティポリス, Sekyuritī Porisu).[1][5] The word "SP" is a loanword used in the Japanese law enforcement system, based on the badge worn by the agents.[3]

The SP insignia on a SP officer's business suit

The division does not protect the Imperial Family as they have their own dedicated division, the Imperial Protection Division.[1]

History

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After an assassination attempt against then-US Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer in 1964, the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission was pressured to resign.[3]

It was not until June 18, 1975, when then-Prime Minister Takeo Miki was attacked publicly by the Greater Japan Patriotic Party Secretary General Hiroyoshi Fudeyasu[6] that the National Police Agency ordered the formation of the division.[6][2] The new unit was based on the US Secret Service.[7]

The unit celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015.[8]

After the assassination of Shinzo Abe, SP officers were deployed to protect Akie Abe after she arrived in Kyoto as a precautionary measure.[9]

On April 15, 2023, SP officers in the Saikazaki bombing incident were able to quickly move Fumio Kishida after a pipebomb was thrown near him.[10]

Scandals

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On November 11, 2021, a SP officer was arrested for allegedly breaking into a women's-only condominium building.[11]

Duties

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The division provides close protection duties for the following people:[3][12][13]

  1. Prime Minister of Japan
  2. Ministers of State
  3. Chief Justice of Japan
  4. President of the House of Councillors
  5. Speaker of the House of Representatives
  6. Governor of Tokyo
  7. Foreign VIPs such as heads of states, ambassadors, etc.
  8. Major political party leaders
  9. Other VIPs designated by the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency

Although it is not mandated, the division also protects the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Vice President of the House of Councillors.

Former prime ministers also receive SP protection.[14] This is provided at the discretion of the National Police Agency.[15]

Organization

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The division is structured in the following way:

  • Director
    • Department Chief
    • General Clerk
      • Section 1[1]
        • Mobile Security Squad
      • Section 2[2]
        • Mobile Security Squad
      • Section 3[3]
        • Mobile Security Squad
      • Section 4[4]
        • Mobile Security Squad

Section 1 is mandated to protect the Prime Minister of Japan. Section 2 protects Ministers of States, the President of the House of Councillors, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Section 3 is known to conduct duties on guarding foreign VIPs such as ambassadors and heads of state while Section 4 are to protect the Chief Justice of Japan, the Governor of Tokyo, and others qualified for protection such as the Vice President of the House of Councillors, the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, and party leaders.

In operations where SPs are deployed to other cities/towns in Japan and overseas, SP officers usually liaise with the local police in order to set up security for an incoming VIP or to scout potential locations where the VIP may visit.[15]

Requirements

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Security Police officer in a Mercedes-Benz S600 during escort duty at the 34th G8 summit in Tōyako, Hokkaidō

SP officers start out as an ordinary police officer, and must serve in the police for five years and have the rank of Sergeant in order to be a candidate.[3] Moreover, candidates are required to be more than 5 feet 8 inches tall (173 cm) (for male candidates),[16] achieve at least a third dan in at least one martial art, and have a high level of marksmanship.[3] SP candidates also need to speak English.[16]

Both male and female police officers can qualify for joining the division.[4]

Equipment

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Officers are mostly armed with handguns and expandable batons during their duties. A mini flashlight and a transceiver is also in their list of equipment. Sometimes they used unmarked cars for transport and escort. They have used Mercedes-Benz S600, Toyota Crown, Nissan Teana, Nissan Elgrand, and Toyota HiAce.

The officers carry mostly the NPA-issued Smith & Wesson Model 37 revolver, or the SIG P230 semi-automatic pistol. Officers can also be seen armed with pistols such as the Beretta 92,[17] Glock 17 or Heckler & Koch P2000.[18]

Notes

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  1. ^ Each of these sections are led by a Section Chief.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Securing Tokyo and its citizens" (PDF). Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. 2016. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "警視庁けいしちょうがSPたい設立せつりつ【1975(昭和しょうわ50)ねん9がつ13にち】" [Metropolitan Police Department establishes SP]. Toushiru (in Japanese). Rakuten Securities. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "What is the Security Police?". Japan Security Management Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-01-17.
  4. ^ a b 各国かっこく要人ようじんまも警視庁けいしちょう警護けいごSPの仕事しごと (in Japanese). Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Archived from the original on 2014-03-04.
  5. ^ "都民とみん首都しゅと安全あんぜんまも万全ばんぜん警備けいび" 警備けいび. Tokyo Metropolitan Police (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-02-03.
  6. ^ a b "Attack on Miki, security lapse shock citizens".
  7. ^ "Abe's killing haunts Japan with questions on handmade guns". Mainichi Daily News. 10 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Spてつおきて強面こわおもてに「ポマード」? Sp発足ほっそく40ねんいのちかけてまも精鋭せいえい」 サミットひか訓練くんれん公開こうかい(1/4ページ)". 21 November 2015.
  9. ^ "【速報そくほう昭恵あきえ夫人ふじん京都きょうとから奈良なら移動いどうテレ朝てれあさnews-テレビ朝日てれびあさひのニュースサイト". Archived from the original on 2022-07-09.
  10. ^ "Kishida incident shows protecting VIPs from lone wolves remains a tall order". 16 April 2023.
  11. ^ "警視庁けいしちょうSp、女性じょせいようマンションに侵入しんにゅう容疑ようぎ部屋へやのぞくため」供述きょうじゅつ朝日新聞あさひしんぶんデジタル". 21 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30.
  12. ^ だい6しょう 公安こうあん維持いじ災害さいがい対策たいさく (in Japanese). Japanese National Police Agency. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  13. ^ "Various Activities, Dignitary Protection" (PDF). Japanese National Police Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  14. ^ "演説えんぜつ現場げんばでも警視庁けいしちょうSpらが警護けいご 逮捕たいほもと海上かいじょう自衛隊じえいたいいんおとこ "特別とくべつ思想しそうてき背景はいけい"把握はあくせず 安倍あべもと総理そうり銃撃じゅうげき | TBS News Dig (1ページ)". 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08.
  15. ^ a b "要人ようじん警護けいごになう「Sp」 首相しゅしょう経験けいけんしゃには1~2にん程度ていど". 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-15.
  16. ^ a b "Spてつおきて強面こわおもてに「ポマード」? Sp発足ほっそく40ねんいのちかけてまも精鋭せいえい」 サミットひか訓練くんれん公開こうかい(3/4ページ)". 21 November 2015.
  17. ^ 警視庁けいしちょうべい大統領だいとうりょう来日らいにちまえだい規模きぼ訓練くんれん (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  18. ^ 陸上りくじょう自衛隊じえいたい唯一ゆいいつ特殊とくしゅ部隊ぶたい 特殊とくしゅ作戦さくせんぐん解説かいせつ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2012-11-28.

Bibliography

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  • Ames, Walter (2004). "Confronting Youth". Police and Community in Japan. University of California Press.