Police in Hokkaido, Shizuoka and Fukuoka prefectures have allegedly misused taxpayers' money. A number of active and retired officers have disclosed that money appropriated for phony business trips and investigative activities was diverted to slush funds.
Shizuoka police have admitted misappropriating funds and will soon return about 5 million yen to prefectural authorities. The Hokkaido police chief, appearing before the prefectural assembly, has apologized for illegal accounting in his force.
There had been scattered revelations in the past of slush funds created by police, but this is the first time that police authorities have admitted systematic accounting scams. Fraudulent use of funds is unlikely to have been limited to the three prefectures. The National Public Safety Commission, or NPSC, and all prefectural public safety commissions should conduct a thorough investigation of police accounting. If possible, a panel of outside experts should investigate.