As
the number of serious crimes is gradually increasing, the role of
police in protecting citizens against crimes and accidents is becoming
all the more important. Police officers are in charge of investigating
crimes, arresting suspects, traffic control, etc. They belong to either
the National Police Agency which is the central agency, or a
prefectural police department. Police boxes (kôban) and police
substations, in which police officers work around-the-clock in shifts,
are located all over the country.
