国家公安委員会 (National Public Safety Commission)

Summary

The National Public Safety Commission (NPSC) is established under Articles 4–12 of the Police Act (Act No. 162 of 1954). It consists of a chairperson (a State Minister) and five civilian members appointed by the Prime Minister with the consent of both houses of the Diet, each serving a five-year term. Members may not have been a police officer or public prosecutor within the five years preceding appointment (Police Act Art. 7). The NPSC supervises the NPA, appoints the NPA Commissioner General, and has binding authority to appoint and discipline senior prefectural police officers (Assistant Commissioner rank and above). Citizens may file complaints directly with the NPSC under Article 79; the NPSC must investigate and report back. The Commission does not conduct independent use-of-force investigations — complaints are referred to internal affairs — and its statutory evidence access is restricted to what the NPA administratively provides. The NPSC reports annually to the Cabinet.