Security Police (Japan)

Security Police

セキュリティポリス Sekyuritī Porisu
The SP insignia on a SP officer's business suit.
Agency overview
Formed	1965
Jurisdiction	Government of Japan
Headquarters	Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

The Security Police (セキュリティポリス, Sekyuritī Porisu^?), is the Japanese close protection unit mandated with the responsibility of protecting domestic and foreign VIPs on Japanese soil and abroad. Its officers are known to wear the SP insignia on their suit lapel, red neckties, and pocket handkerchiefs on their suits. Its structure has been greatly influenced by the United States Secret Service.

The SP is under the control of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

After an assassination attempt against the then US Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer was foiled by police in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo in 1964, the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission decided to resign. In response, the SP was established in 1965 to protect VIPs during their time on Japanese soil.

Prior to the unit's creation, riot police were used to conduct VIP protection duties.

SP officers are mandated to provide close protection duties for the following people:

The Security Police is structured in the following way:

Section 1 is mandated to protect the Prime Minister of Japan. Section 2 protects the speakers of the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives. Section 3 is known to conduct duties on guarding foreign VIPs such as ambassadors and heads of state while Section 4 are to protect the Governor of Tokyo and ex-Japanese Prime Ministers.