Security Police (Japan)

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]

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 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

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

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

Duties

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

The division 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 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
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

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

References
  1. "Securing Tokyo and its citizens" (PDF). Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. 2016. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2017.
  2. "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. "What is the Security Police?". Japan Security Management Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2010-01-17.
  4. 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. "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鉄の掟は強面に「ポマード」？ Ｓｐ発足４０年「命かけて守る精鋭」 サミット控え訓練公開（1/4ページ）". 21 November 2015.
  9. "【速報】昭恵夫人は京都から奈良へ移動｜テレ朝news-テレビ朝日のニュースサイト". 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Sp、女性用マンションに侵入容疑「部屋のぞくため」供述：朝日新聞デジタル". 21 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30.
  12. 第6章 公安の維持と災害対策 (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. "演説現場でも警視庁Spらが警護 逮捕の元海上自衛隊員の男 "特別な思想的背景"把握せず 安倍元総理銃撃 | TBS News Dig (1ページ)". 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08.
  15. "要人警護担う「Ｓｐ」 首相経験者には１～２人程度". 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-07-15.
  16. "Ｓｐ鉄の掟は強面に「ポマード」？ Ｓｐ発足４０年「命かけて守る精鋭」 サミット控え訓練公開（3/4ページ）". 21 November 2015.
  17. 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.
  18. 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 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2012-11-28.

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