The National Police Agency on July 24 released a fiscal 2012 white book that contained a section titled "Large-scale disasters and the police" at its outset. The section details what actions the police took when the earthquake and tsunami devastated the Tohoku coastal region on March 11, 2011, and the lessons learned from that experience.
Along with the Self-Defense Forces and fire departments, the police play an important role in helping to reduce the damage caused by disasters and rescuing victims. People have high expectations of the police during difficult times.
It is important that the police improve their organizational efficiency and increase the number of personnel who can be mobilized during disasters.