ID :
172824
Mon, 04/04/2011 - 08:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/172824
The shortlink copeid
EXCLUSIVE: Japan Police to Support Volunteer Patrols in Disaster Areas
Tokyo, April 4 (Jiji Press)--Police are moving to support evacuees' volunteer patrols in northeastern Japan areas hit by last month's disaster, sources familiar with the matter told Jiji Press Monday.
Prefectural police in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima plan to prepare goods necessary for patrols such as flashlights, arm badges and jumpers to neighborhood watch groups formed in areas hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the sources said.
Those groups will also receive advice about patrols from police officers.
Police will source such goods from anticrime volunteer groups. Groups in prefectures such as Osaka, Kyoto, Gunma and Tokyo as well as private-sector organizations have offered to cooperate.
The move comes as evacuees are concerned about a series of thefts at collapsed houses, companies and shops as well as rumors of looting, murders and rapes in affected areas.
Police, while strengthening their own patrols in disaster areas, are also taking advantage of voluntary moves by evacuees themselves.
Police are also considering encouraging people at evacuation centers to form neighborhood watch groups.
If such voluntary anticrime activities spread, solidarity among evacuees will grow while a sense of relief will be provided to other local residents, one police officer said.
Prefectural police in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima plan to prepare goods necessary for patrols such as flashlights, arm badges and jumpers to neighborhood watch groups formed in areas hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the sources said.
Those groups will also receive advice about patrols from police officers.
Police will source such goods from anticrime volunteer groups. Groups in prefectures such as Osaka, Kyoto, Gunma and Tokyo as well as private-sector organizations have offered to cooperate.
The move comes as evacuees are concerned about a series of thefts at collapsed houses, companies and shops as well as rumors of looting, murders and rapes in affected areas.
Police, while strengthening their own patrols in disaster areas, are also taking advantage of voluntary moves by evacuees themselves.
Police are also considering encouraging people at evacuation centers to form neighborhood watch groups.
If such voluntary anticrime activities spread, solidarity among evacuees will grow while a sense of relief will be provided to other local residents, one police officer said.
