Column 1 Measures against Crimes

After the sharp increase in crime during the first half of the Heisei Era, the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures Against Crime drew up the “Action Plan for Achieving a Crime-Resistant Society 2003”, which placed a priority on the following:

• (i)Preventing neighborhood crimes that threaten peaceful lives;
• (ii)Preventing juvenile crimes with the cooperation of society as a whole;
• (iii)Responding to transnational threats;
• (iv)Protecting economy and society from organized crime; and
• (v) Developing infrastructure for restoring a peaceful society.

The Ministerial Meeting also drew up the “Action Plan for Achieving a Crime-Resistant Society 2008” containing seven priorities, including “building a society that does not create criminals”, which placed emphasis on preventing re-offending.

The measures introduced under these action plans led to a decrease in crime during the second half of the Heisei Era.