The National Police Agency has established a special traffic task force to deal with transportation problems that could arise during the 2002 World Cup finals to be cohosted by Japan and South Korea, NPA officials said.
The task force includes five officials from the NPA's Traffic Regulations Division. It will coordinate with prefectural police to handle the large number of soccer fans expected to come to Japan for the event.
The inauguration ceremony for the task force was attended by 15 senior NPA Traffic Bureau officials, including its chief, Jiro Bando.
Bando told new members to coordinate their activities with the Security Bureau in drawing up measures to cope with potential problems, including hooliganism.
Police are concerned about overcrowding at train stations and on shuttle buses near stadiums.
The task force will also monitor how prefectural police control traffic.