Japan Press Weekly

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2012 July 11 - 17 [WELFARE]

Citizens urge Tokyo to stop installing ex-police officers at welfare offices

Workers, lawyers and citizens on July 10 made representations to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, demanding a halt to the use of retired police officers at welfare offices under the guise of eliminating gangsters’ wrongful attempts to apply for the livelihood protection program.

As of June, 16 welfare offices in Tokyo hire retired police officers.

Welfare offices employ retired cops in accordance with an instruction that the Welfare Ministry issued in March. The instruction encourages the offices to use former cops to prevent crime syndicate members from applying to receive welfare benefits.

One participant said, “The issue of illegal application for public welfare assistance by organized crime group members could be solved if welfare offices deal with individual cases in collaboration with police. At present, one case worker provides consultation for a hundred people who need welfare assistance. To increase the number of case workers is what is needed.”

Participants in the representations were from the Tokyo Council for Promotion of Social Security, the Tokyo Regional Council of Trade Unions, the Japan Lawyers’ Association for Freedom, People’s Aid and Relief Society (Kokumin Kyuenkai), and the National Association for Safeguarding People’s Life and Health (Zenseiren).