A kōban is typically a one- or two-story building with a couple of rooms, staffed by one to ten police officers. The officers assigned to kōban belong to Community police affairs sections of police stations. They are able to keep a general watch, respond to emergencies, give directions, and otherwise interact with citizens on a more intimate basis than would be the case if they were operating from a more distant station. Although often translated into English as "police box", kōban bear little resemblance to the police boxes formerly found in the UK or the police call boxes formerly found in the US.
History
The name kōban derives from the name of the earliest structure built in 1874, which were indeed simple boxes meant for standing watch in rotation, thus creating a compound word consisting ofkō and ban. Soon after, in 1881, kōban were transformed into local community stations with as many as six officers and a new official name hashutsujo was given to it — although its common name, "kōban" survived. "Kōban" was further systematized and spread out nationwide, playing an important role in the Japanese police system over decades. In 1994, the official name hashutsujo was changed back to kōban. One of the issues recognized in the last several years as most significant around the kōban system was the existence of unmanned stations. According to the National Police Agency, this issue was addressed and solved by 2007. In 2017, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has been posting officers in kōbans who speak more than one language to help tourists and foreign expats, using the Kabukicho Kōban in Shinjuku and the Shibuya Ekimae Kōban. In 2019, the NPA has ordered a risk assessment ever since a series of attacks on officers manning the kōbans were wounded or being killed just to steal their issued items, usually their sidearms. This was in the wake of an attack on a lone officer stationed inside a kōban on June 16, 2019 in Suita. An initial suggestion was to prioritize the issue of special holsters that can easily protect an officer's sidearm from being easily taken.
Police officers stationed at kōban serve several roles:
Maps and directions – providing maps and directions to local addresses, sometimes even personally guiding those unfamiliar with local street layouts and addressing schemes. Additionally, officers can refer people to local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses.
Lost and found – accepting reports of lost items and accepting found items from members of the public and, if a matching lost item is turned in, notifying the owner of the item to come pick up the item.
Crime reports – taking police reports, typically for property crimes such as theft and burglary.
Emergency services – dialing the emergency telephone number "110" in the case of police, fire, or medical emergency. Direct contact can be made with the kōban and assistance will be dispatched.
