The National Police Agency appears more confident about combating the yakuza now that it has revised legislation allowing instant arrests as well as the new organized crime exclusion ordinance at its disposal.
The new law, revised in February, took effect July 26, allowing police to immediately arrest members of designated yakuza groups over illegal acts, including extortion and blackmail. It closed a legal loophole requiring that police first order yakuza to desist from illegal activities, allowing them to effectively evade arrest.
But some argue that the revised law may only prompt underworld groups to move further into the shadows, and that police should strengthen actual law enforcement practices instead.