Special Security Response Team

The Special Security Response Team[2][lower-alpha 1] (特別機動警備隊, Tokubetsu kidō keibitai) is an emergency service unit placed under the Japanese Ministry of Justice's Correction Bureau. It is based at the Tokyo Detention House.[4]

Special Security Response Team
特別機動警備隊
Active2019–present
CountryJapan
BranchCorrection Bureau (Ministry of Justice)
TypeEmergency service unit
HeadquartersTokyo Detention House
Commanders
Current
commander		Nobuteru Suzuki[1]

According to Norio Saeki, Director of the Correction Bureau, SeRT is tasked to handle anti-riot and disaster operations at CB-staffed facilities without diverting manpower from various police or fire departments.[5]

Captain Hiromichi Ouchi is the SeRT's commanding officer when the unit was founded.[2] Captain Shinjiro Nagase was the SeRT Deputy Captain.[6]

History

The SeRT was established on April 1, 2019, at the grounds of the Tokyo Detention House.[2] On June 3, 2019, the unit was awarded the commander's flag by Ministry of Justice Takashi Yamashita.[7] The SeRT allowed the Correction Bureau to have a full-time anti-riot response unit as the CB formerly used temporary anti-riot teams consisting of CB guards[7] and to ensure security of CB-staffed correctional facilities.[8]

In the aftermath of the 2021 Atami landslide, a humanitarian operation was underway in Atami, Shizuoka.[9] 19 officers were dispatched to work with Atami City officials and the Atami Police Station on July 18 to provide support in traffic duties and protection of restricted areas.[2][10] After Typhoon Hagibis made landfall at Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture,[11] 13 SeRT officers were deployed to Suzaka, Nagano to provide assistance for waste disposal and provide facility security from October 19 to 23.[2][12] From October 23, 14 SeRT officers were deployed to the city up to October 27.[12]

On December 2, 2021, SeRT has publicly shown a Mazda CX-8 that would serve as a commander vehicle, equipped with red emergency lights, front sensor, radio and loudspeaker microphone.[6] It was previously delivered to the Ministry of Justice in November 2021.[6]

Organization

SeRT is composed of 56 officers, including the captain in charge.[8][13]

On April 19, 2022, 58 officers are assigned to SeRT.[1]

Tasks

SeRT is tasked with the following responsibilities:[2]

  1. Riots and other serious incidents such as prison breaks and attacks inside prisons, detention centers and juvenile training schools.
  2. Anti-terrorist operations in and around prisons, detention centers and juvenile training schools.
  3. Dispatch to disaster areas for humanitarian operations, including operation of emergency shelters.
  4. Conduct disaster relief operations in correctional facilities after a tsunami or an earthquake under scale intensity of six or higher.[8]
  • SeRT officers in a briefing prior to participating in humanitarian operations in Atami, Shizuoka after the landslides
    SeRT officers in a briefing prior to participating in humanitarian operations in Atami, Shizuoka after the landslides
  • Kids throw fake stones at SeRT officers during an anti-riot demonstration.
    Kids throw fake stones at SeRT officers during an anti-riot demonstration.
  • Mazda CX-8 as a Commander's vehicle
    Mazda CX-8 as a Commander's vehicle
  • Personal equipment
    Personal equipment

Notes
  1. The unit's name is literally known as the Special Mobile Guard.[3]

References
  1. "特別機動警備隊「SeRT」新隊長ら9人が入隊". Archived from the original on 2022-04-19.
  2. "特別機動警備隊" (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  3. "看守が機動警備隊に転身 訓練を初公開 法務省" (in Japanese). TBS News. 2022-01-13. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  4. "特別警備隊長旗を授与 法務省、災害や暴動に対応". Nikkei. 2019-06-03. Archived from the original on 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  5. "法務省矯正局の特別機動警備隊「SeRT」訓練を初公開" (in Japanese). Fukushima Broadcasting. 2022-01-13. Archived from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  6. "マツダ、法務省 特別機動警備隊「SeRT」指揮官車として納入した「CX-8」公開" (in Japanese). Car Watch. 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  7. "「法務省矯正局特別機動警備隊」の発足に伴い，山下法務大臣から特別機動警備隊隊長に対し，「指揮官旗」が授与されました。（令和元年６月３日（月））" (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Justice.
  8. "法務省が特別機動警備隊 災害や暴動、テロに対応" (in Japanese). Nikkei. 2019-05-12. Archived from the original on 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  9. "Japan landslide: 20 people missing in Atami city". BBC. 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  10. "法務省が特別警備隊派遣 交通規制を支援―熱海土砂災害" (in Japanese). Jiji. 2021-07-20. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  11. "Japan Typhoon 19 / Typhoon Hagibis: Situation Report 1 – period covered: October 12-14, 2019". OCHA Services. 2019-10-13. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  12. "記者が行く！～法務省矯正局特別機動警備隊が被災地での支援に当たりました～" (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  13. "特別機動警備隊（Special Security Readiness Team 略称「SeRT」）によるワークショップ" (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
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