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How does Japan's koban system help police stay close to local communities?
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Officers of the French National Police patrolling a housing project.
Japan’s police services maintain a strong connection to local communities through an extensive network of small neighborhood police boxes known as kōban.1
While the term koban can also refer to a historical Japanese gold coin, in the context of law enforcement, these neighborhood stations serve as a foundational element of the country's security infrastructure. By placing officers directly within residential and commercial areas, the kōban system ensures that law enforcement is physically integrated into the daily life of the community, facilitating a visible and accessible police presence that supports the country's overall law enforcement efforts.21