Security Police (Japan)

The Security Police (セキュリティポリス, Sekyuritī Porisu), is the Japanese close protection unit mandated with the responsibility of protecting domestic and foreign VIPs on Japanese soil and abroad. Its officers are known to wear the SP insignia on their suit lapel, red neckties, and pocket handkerchiefs on their suits.[1][2]

Security Police
セキュリティポリス
Sekyuritī Porisu
The SP insignia on a SP officer's business suit.
AbbreviationSP
Agency overview
Formed1975
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionJapan
Legal jurisdictionJapan
General nature
Specialist jurisdiction
  • Protection of international or domestic VIPs, protection of significant state assets.
Operational structure
HeadquartersTokyo
Parent agencyTokyo Metropolitan Police Department

The SP is under the control of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Security Bureau (警備部).[3] The word SP is a loanword that is used in the Japanese law enforcement system, based on the lapel pin seen on an officer's collar on his or her dress suit jacket.[4]

In official English material, it's also known as the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department VIP Protection Division.[5]

Prior to the unit's creation, riot police were used to conduct VIP protection duties.[6]

The SP is not mandated to protect the Imperial Family since the Imperial Guard is in charge. While the unit does protect the Japanese prime minister, he or she is protected by the Prime Minister's Official Residence Guard if they're inside the Kantei.

History

After an assassination attempt against the then-US Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer was foiled by police in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo in 1964, the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission decided to resign.[4]

It was not until June 18, 1975 when then-Prime Minister Takeo Miki was attacked publicly by Great Japan Patriotic Party secretary general Hiroyoshi Fudeyasu[7] that the National Police Agency announced that they were looking into ways of ensuring the safety of VIPs from the government[7] despite the presence of several police officers nearby.[8]

On September 13, 1975 the TMPD ordered the creation of the SP unit.[8]

Duties

SP officers are mandated to provide close protection duties for the following people:[4][9][10]

  1. Prime Minister of Japan, former and current
  2. Ministers of State
  3. President of the House of Councillors
  4. Speaker of the House of Representatives
  5. Governor of Tokyo
  6. Foreign VIPs such as heads of states, ambassadors, etc.
  7. Other VIPs are designed by the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Public Security Bureau

Organization

The TMPD Security Police is structured in the following way:

  • Director
  • Department Chief
  • General Clerk
    • Section 1
      • Mobile Security Squad
    • Section 2
      • Mobile Security Squad
    • Section 3
      • Mobile Security Squad
    • Section 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 Governor of Tokyo and Other qualified VIPs who requested protection from the police(such as ex-Japanese Prime Ministers who became a members of the House of Representatives, Vice President of the House of Councillors, Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, top members of the Political Party, etc).

Requirements

SP candidates are trained in the police academy the same as ordinary police officers, they are taught by the former SP officers and trained for a month. They must serve in the police for five years with the rank of Sergeant in order to be qualified.[4] 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.[4]

Both male and female police officers can qualify for joining the SP.[2]

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

SP 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 [11] , Glock 17 or Heckler & Koch P2000.[12]

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References
  1. "Security Service Help Make the Occasion Safe and Enjoyable, For Foreign People/Security". Japanese National Police Agency. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  2. 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. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  3. 警備 (in Japanese). Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  4. "What is the Security Police?" (in Japanese). Japan Security Management Academy. Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20180812115902/http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/multilingual/english/about_us/graph_keishicho/index.files/14.pdf
  6. Ames, page 75.
  7. https://www.stripes.com/news/attack-on-miki-security-lapse-shock-citizens-1.20993
  8. https://media.rakuten-sec.net/articles/print/16459
  9. 第6章　公安の維持と災害対策 (in Japanese). Japanese National Police Agency. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  10. "Various Activities, Dignitary Protection" (PDF). Japanese National Police Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
Miscellaneous notes
  1. ^ Each of these sections are led by a Section Chief.

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