Safety and Disaster Prevention: Role of the Police box
The police box ensures regional safety
(1) Role of the police box
Police boxes are established as the base for police activities all over Kyoto Prefecture with a view to maintain town safety night and day.
Number of police boxes: 186 Police sub-stations: 101 (as of April 2009)
(2) Activities of the police box
In principle, policemen work in shifts in the police box. Some policemen live in the sub-stations with their families and work.
Activities:
- Patrols
- Response to cases, accidents, etc
- Listen to residents’ complaints, opinions, demands, etc
- Acceptance of damage reports
- Providing directions, acceptance of application for lost and found properties, protecting lost children
(3) ’Tour of Communication’
In the ’Tour of Communication’, policemen from police box visit local houses and offices to provide guidance for preventing crimes and accidents and directly listen to your concerns and needs. In the ’Tour of Communication’, policemen may ask you to fill out a ’Report Card’. This is used to contact your family in case of lost children, natural disasters, crimes, accidents, and other emergencies.
(4) ’Police Box Consultant’
A ’Police Box Consultant’ is a former policeman with great knowledge and experience as a policeman who patrols and provides service for prefectural residents in the absence of a policeman. ’Police Box Consultants’ are currently stationed at 136 police boxes within the prefecture.(As of April 2009)
’Police Box Consultant’:
- Provides directions and manages lost property
- Listens to residents’ concerns, opinions, needs, etc
- Inform policemen of accidents and crimes
- Accepting robbery reports of bicycles and motorcycles
- Provide guidance by telephone for aged people to prevent crimes
- Provides advice and guidance for local neighborhood watch groups
Contact
Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters, Community Affairs Department, Planning Section
Tel 075-451-9111(extension 3516)