Security Police (Japan)

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

The Security Police is the close protection division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD).[1] The division is responsible for protecting domestic and foreign VIPs on Japanese soil. [1][4]

The division's officers 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 attached on the officer's suit.[3]

The SP insignia on a SP officer's business suit

The division does not protect the Imperial Family which has its own dedicated division the Imperial Protection Division.[1] The division protects the Prime Minister only if he is outside or abroad, while the covers security when he is inside the official residence.

History[]

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]

Duties[]

The division is mandated to provide close protection duties for the following people:[3][7][8]

  1. Prime Minister of Japan, former and current
  2. Ministers of State
  3. Chief Justice of Japan
  4. President of the House of Councillors
  5. Speaker of the House of Representatives
  6. Governors of Tokyo, Chiba, and Osaka
  7. Foreign VIPs such as heads of states, ambassadors, etc.
  8. Other VIPs designated by the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency

Although it is not mandated, the division protects the Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Vice President of the House of Councillors, party leaders, and the President of the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

Immediate family members of the Prime Minister do not have a permanent security detail, as they only receive protection during official duties or if they are with the Prime Minister.

Organization[]

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 the Ministers of State, Speaker of the House of Councillors and the President 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, Osaka, and Chiba, 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.

Requirements[]

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), achieve at least a third dan in at least one martial art, and have a high level of marksmanship.[3]

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

Items[]

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,[9] Glock 17 or Heckler & Koch P2000.[10]

Notes[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Securing Toyko and its citizens" (PDF). Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. 2016. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2017.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "警視庁がSP隊設立【1975（昭和50）年9月13日】" [Metropolitan Police Department establishes SP]. Toushiru (in Japanese). Rakuten Securities. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: 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. ^ Jump up to: a b 各国の要人を護れ 警視庁警護課ＳＰの仕事 (in Japanese). Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Archived from the original on 2014-03-04.
  5. ^ "都民と首都の安全を守る万全な警備" 警備. Tokyo Metropolitan Police (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-02-03.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Attack on Miki, security lapse shock citizens".
  7. ^ 第6章 公安の維持と災害対策 (in Japanese). Japanese National Police Agency. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  8. ^ "Various Activities, Dignitary Protection" (PDF). Japanese National Police Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  9. ^ 警視庁、米大統領来日前に大規模な訓練 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  10. ^ 陸上自衛隊唯一の特殊部隊 特殊作戦群の解説 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2012-11-28.

Bibliography[]

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