Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� September, 2003

The First Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures Against Crime Friday, September 5, 2003 The First Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures Against Crime was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. This meeting was held in light of the current situation with frequent occurrence of juvenile and heinous crimes which pose an immediate threat to the people's daily lives. Aiming for the re-establishment of Japan as "the safest country in the world," the meeting seeks to secure a close cooperation with related headquarters and administrative organizations and also to comprehensively and actively promote efficient and appropriate anti-crime measures. At the meeting, decision was made to compile the "Action Plan for the Realization of a Society Resistant to Crime (tentative name)" by the end of 2003. It was also determined to discuss the strengthening of measures against various crimes including the shoreline measures as its pillars; the promotion of measures to develop a social environment where crime is less likely to occur; and assistance of activities for the people to secure their own safety. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, "There is a need for the Government as a whole to work together to regain the trust of the people that `Japan is the safest country in the world.' I would like to ask for the cooperation of the related ministers."