Riot Police Unit
Riot Police Unit are the rapid reaction forces of Japanese prefectural police. These units are not only riot police, but a type of emergency service unit to maintain public order against large civil disorder, disaster response, or other emergency situations as the key units of Japanese law enforcement for crisis management. They are operated by prefectural police headquarters under the supervision of the Security Bureau of the National Police Agency (NPA).
Background
Before World War II, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department established the Tokubetsu-keibi-tai. During the war, as air raids on Japan intensified and civilian casualties increased, the TMPD ESU was enhanced for relief missions and renamed as the Security Unit. At the same time, it was decided to set up similar units in other prefectures with major cities. However, in 1946, the Security Units were disbanded as part of police reforms enacted by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers under the occupation.Shortly after the TMPD ESU was disbanded, the Guard Section was created for the same role. In 1948, this unit was reinforced to the Police Reserve Units. In addition, similar but smaller-scale riot squads were created in several other prefectures to deal with post-war turmoil. In 1952, under the direction of the National Rural Police Headquarters, the Riot Police Units were created with 20 prefectures with large cities. In 1957, the TMPD Reserve Units were renamed the Riot Police Unit. By 1962, all PPHs had the same kind of units.
Organization
Riot Police Units comprise the main strength of the Security Departments of each prefectural police headquarters. Most PPHs have only one unit, but some urban PPHs have multiple units. For example, there are ten units in the TMPD.Each unit consists of a headquarters and some companies. The public relations divisions, known as "DJ cops", are placed in each unit headquarters. They rely on eloquent and humorous speaking to prevent crowd disasters.
Specialist squads
The equipment of the anti-riot officers is largely the same as that of regular police officers. However, equipment used in riot control operations, such as protective gear, may differ. And within the Riot Police Units, there are certain squads with specific equipment and training.Counterterrorism
;Anti-firearms squad;Counter-NBC terrorism squad
;Bomb disposal squad
;Nuclear special guard unit
Search and rescue
;Rescue squads;Ranger Courses
;Water rescue squads
Also, as non-permanent units prepared for large scale disasters, the Interprefectural emergency rescue units have been established based on the lesson of the Great Hanshin earthquake. Members of these units work mainly in Riot Police Units or Regional Riot Police Units during peacetime, but they regularly gather and train in preparation for disasters.
Reserves
Full-time riot police units can also be augmented by auxiliary riot police units with regular police officers trained in riot duties. There are two types of auxiliary riot police units:;Secondary Riot Police Units
;Regional Riot Police Units
Operational history
Riot Police Units have been widely deployed in dealing with large civil disorder, disaster response, counter-terrorism operations, and so on as below:; Bloody May Day
; Humanitarian response to the Typhoon Vera
; Riot control against student activism of the University of Tokyo
; Asama-Sansō incident
; Activities against Aum Shinrikyo
; Humanitarian response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami