Training in Japan in July 2026: “Operational Management of Community Policing (Koban)”
From 23 to 31 July 2026, a Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) in Japan entitled “Operational Management of Community Policing (Koban)” was conducted in Tokyo and Gunma Prefecture for ten officers of the National Police of Côte d’Ivoire.
The program aimed to provide participants with a better understanding of Japan’s community policing system, police officer training, mechanisms for incorporating citizens’ voices into police activities, and initiatives to promote the participation of female police officers. The knowledge gained through the program is intended to contribute to strengthening community policing in Côte d’Ivoire.
First, on 24 July, the participants paid a courtesy visit to the National Police Agency of Japan in Tokyo. They then attended lectures on community policing, advisory committees at police stations, and the promotion of female police officers’ participation. On 26 July, they travelled to Gunma Prefecture, where they visited the Gunma Prefectural Police Headquarters, Maebashi Police Station, Otomomachi Koban, and the Gunma Prefectural Police Academy over the following three days, through 29 July.
At the Gunma Prefectural Police Headquarters, the participants attended several lectures and visited the communications command center, where they observed the handling of an actual emergency call to 110.
At Maebashi Police Station, they observed the pre-shift inspection of community police officers and toured various facilities within the station. They also viewed police vehicles and a motorcycle police training session, gaining a practical understanding of community policing activities.
At Otomomachi Koban, the participants had the opportunity to observe regular visits by police officers to local residents as well as officers standing watch in front of the Koban. This enabled them to deepen their understanding of the role and operation of a Koban as a police facility located close to the community. During the visit, the head of the delegation was also interviewed by local media. The visit was featured on a television news program that same day and in the following morning’s local newspaper.
At the Gunma Prefectural Police Academy, the participants attended the graduation ceremony for newly recruited police officers and toured the academy’s facilities. They also observed arrest-technique training and a crime-scene investigation exercise. Through discussions with instructors, they deepened their understanding of police education and professional development in Japan.
On 30 July, the final day of the training program, an evaluation session was held at the JICA Tokyo Center to review the program as a whole. This was followed by a closing ceremony, during which the participants received their certificates of completion. The participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the program as a whole. They particularly appreciated the opportunity to observe actual police activities and operations in the field in addition to attending lectures. They were also impressed by the strong relationship of trust between the police and local communities, as well as by the discipline and punctuality of the Japanese people. The opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by female police officers and the potential for their further participation was also appreciated.
Throughout the program, the participants actively considered how the knowledge gained could be applied to their future community policing activities, taking into account the specific context of Côte d’Ivoire. The outcomes of the program are expected to be shared with relevant stakeholders and within the participants’ respective organizations, thereby contributing to the further advancement of community policing in Côte d’Ivoire.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the National Police Agency of Japan, the Gunma Prefectural Police, and all the individuals and institutions that contributed to the implementation of this training program.
