Special Investigation Teams (SIT) (特殊事件捜査係, Tokushu Jiken Sousa Kakari) are tacticaldetective units of Japanese prefectural police forces.[1] Special Investigation Teams are maintained by prefectural police headquarters (PPH) and are trained to handle critical incidents including criminal investigation and tactical operations.[2][3]
It became clear that traditional criminal investigation systems were sluggish and outdated for these new-style, rapid-tempo, and sometimes lethal cases. As a response to these problems, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) established the SIT unit within its Criminal Investigation Bureau in 1964. These detectives were well acquainted with new technology and special tactics to track and capture the criminals quickly and accurately.[2]
At the beginning, the name "SIT" came from an acronym of its romanized Japanese unit name, Sousa Ikka Tokushuhan-Sousa-Kakari (捜査一課特殊犯捜査係), but later, the origin of its name as an acronym of its English nickname, Special Investigation Team, was added afterwards by misunderstanding from an officer who is fluent in English.[2]
This idea achieved a great success that in 1970, the National Police Agency (NPA) requested the establishment of these kind of units for other prefectural police forces throughout Japan.[1] These detectives also became responsible for intervening and rescuing when hostages were in danger. In 1992, TMPD strengthened the SWAT capability by incorporating several SAP operators into its SIT.[4]
Known Operations
In May 2007, in a hostage crisis case in Nagoya, an ex-yakuza gangster named Hisato Obayashi (大林 久人) was captured after he killed Kazuho Hayashi (林 一歩), an Aichi SAT operative.[5] The situation resulted in a debate in a Diet Committee on whether the Aichi SIT should have changed tactics from negotiating with Obayashi since the SIT unit at the time had a negotiator dispatched to help the SAT unit.[6]
On May 25, 2023, the Tokyo SIT and the Kanagawa Prefectural Police's Special Assault Team was mobilized in Nagano response to requests for assistance from the NPP in a shooting/stabbing spree.[7][8]
On October 31, 2023, the Tokyo SIT was sent to Warabi, Saitama in response to a hostage situation at the local JP Post office[9] to assist the Saitama Prefectural Police based on requests.[10]
Organization
Structure
All unit are established in the First Investigation Divisions (捜査一課, Sousa Ikka) of each prefectural police headquarters (PPHs).[2] These units are generally local-based, so organizations (including their unit names) and equipment are varied. Among them, the Special Investigations Team (SIT) of the TMPD and the Martial Arts Attack Team (MAAT) of the Osaka PPH are the first units to be created and still the most prominent units nationwide.[11]
In the First Criminal Investigation Division of the TMPD, the following units are assigned for special criminal investigation activities:[12]
First Deputy Manager of Special Investigation (第一特殊犯捜査・課長代理)
Special Investigation Unit One (特殊犯捜査第一係)
Special Investigation Unit Two (特殊犯捜査第二係)
Second Deputy Manager of Special Investigation (第二特殊犯捜査・課長代理)
Special Investigation Unit Three (特殊犯捜査第三係)
Special Investigation Unit Four (特殊犯捜査第四係)
Special Investigation Unit Five (特殊犯捜査第五係)
Third Deputy Manager of Special Investigation (第三特殊犯捜査・課長代理)
Special Investigation Unit Six (特殊犯捜査第六係)
Special Investigation Unit Seven (特殊犯捜査第七係)
Of all these units, Units One and Two are in charge of hostage cases and especially known as "SIT". As of the early 2000s, there were over 60 detectives in total for these seven units, and about 30 detectives with Unit One and Two alone.[11] On the contrary, some rural PPHs assign only one or two detectives to these offices, so in case of tactical operations, these units can be reinforced by detectives of Mobile Investigation Units (機動捜査隊, Kidō Sousa-tai), first responders for initial criminal investigations.[2]
When rural prefectural police are struggling with an investigation, the NPA orders the TMPD or Osaka Prefectural Police to dispatch advisors.[13] This custom evolved into the Special Investigation Dispatch Task Force (特殊班派遣部隊, Tokushuhan-haken-butai) as a formal institution of the NPA, being made up of experienced detectives selected from across the country. These detectives usually work at their respective PPHs, but they may be dispatched to other PPHs to provide advice to the local commander as needed.[11]
The Task Force also conducts research on special investigations, such as participating in training at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and regular joint training sessions are held to disseminate its outcomes. The TMPD's SIT has also received advice on tactical operations from the Far East Field Office of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Yokosuka.[11]
Capabilities
Detectives mandated for special investigation are trained to perform tactical operations, criminal investigation, and manhunts. They are also capable of telephone tapping, stakeouts, surveillance, and crisis negotiation.[1] They are not responsible for counterterrorism, which is the responsibility of security divisions, such as Special Assault Teams (SAT) or Anti-Firearms Squads.[2] However, in some rural prefectures such as Aomori, these detectives can form a counter-terrorism task force together with uniformed officers and riot specialists.[14]
SIT units are required to apprehend suspects alive.[15] For this reason, they do not maintain their own sniper teams. If necessary, the security divisions would dispatch sniper teams to the site.[16]
SIT or similar units
As mentioned above, SIT or similar units have various names and may not have a specific name if they are small in number. The units whose names are known from media reports are as follows:
^Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (August 1, 1963). 警視庁本部の課長代理の担当並びに係の名称及び分掌事務に関する規程 [Rules concerning the charge of deputy manager, the name of the units and division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters] (PDF) (in Japanese). Retrieved May 31, 2019.
^Otuka, Masashi (January 2009). "First public exhibition of the TST". Strike and Tactical Magazine (in Japanese). 6 (1). KAMADO: 10–11.
^「イスラム国事件」急派、警察の情報特殊部隊「ＴＲＴ－２」の実像 「ＳＡＴ」「ＳＩＴ」と何が違うか [The True Nature of "TRT-2", the Police Intelligence Task Force Suddenly Dispatched in the "Islamic State Incident": What is the Difference from "SAT" and "SIT"?]. Sankei Shimbun. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
Mōri, Fumihiko (2002). 警視庁捜査一課特殊班 [Special Team of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department First Investigation Division] (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. ISBN978-4043762019.
