On October 7th, a practical joint crime prevention drill was held at the "National Route 246 Crossing Deck" connecting SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE and SHIBUYA STREAM, involving security guards from facilities around Shibuya Station and the Shibuya Police Station.The training, organized by Shibuya Station Area Management and Shibuya Police Station, was conducted under the scenario that a passerby was attacked and a suspicious object was discovered in the busy station area. Security guards from the facility and police officers worked together to confirm emergency response procedures.

In the event of an incident, cooperation with the police will be conducted across facility boundaries.

The venue, a deck, is a passageway connecting the second floor SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE and SHIBUYA STREAM. The area around the station is home to a concentration of commercial and railway facilities, each managed by a different company.

The "National Route 246 Crossing Deck" was developed on the site of the former Shibuya Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line.

In preparation for incidents in public spaces where many people come and go, businesses around the station are currently working to create a system to ensure the safety of visitors by sharing information with other facilities and the police. As part of this effort, in 2023, Shibuya Station Area Management concluded an "Agreement on Shibuya Station Area Security" with businesses around the station. They are coordinating with the police, fire department, and various facilities, and have been conducting joint crime prevention drills since that year.

This training exercise, designed to verify this coordination in a real-world setting, involved personnel from disaster prevention centers and security departments responsible for initial response in the event of an actual incident, at facilities such as SHIBUYA STREAM, SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE, and Shibuya Sakura Stage. On this day, they confirmed a series of procedures, including responding to the injured, guiding evacuations, communicating information to the police, and searching for and disposing of suspicious objects.

Reviewing initial response, from treating injured individuals to reporting incidents.

Prior to the training, Takashi Mitsubuchi, representative director of Shibuya Station Area Management, gave a speech. "As redevelopment progresses, various people visit Shibuya, and complex responses are required for crime prevention. We want to strengthen the crime prevention system not just by one facility, but by having businesses around the station cooperate. I hope that this training will lead to improved crime prevention in the city of Shibuya."

Prior to the start of the training, Takashi Mitsubuchi, Representative Director of Shibuya Station Area Management, gave the opening remarks.

After the greetings, the drill began with a scene where a passerby, acting as a security guard patrolling the deck, asked for help, claiming there was a fight. When the security guard rushed to the scene, there was no one fighting, but several people were lying on the ground. The fallen people were crying out, "It hurts, it hurts!" and clutching their faces and eyes, while some people nearby didn't understand what had happened. The security guard reported the situation to the disaster prevention center and requested backup.

Left: A passerby complaining of pain in their eyes and face. Right: A security guard rushes to the side of a passerby who has collapsed on the deck to assess the situation.

As security guards interviewed each person, they learned that someone had sprayed something. They also received eyewitness accounts that the person was carrying something resembling a handgun. The security guards began attending to the injured while simultaneously reviewing the information they had gathered and confirming the procedure for calling 110 (the Japanese emergency number).

Security guards quickly guide the injured person to safety from the scene.

Police apprehend actor playing the role of a gunman in a simulated hostage situation.

The police officers from Shibuya Police Station who arrived on the scene were informed of the injured person's condition, eyewitness accounts, and the suspect's characteristics. At this point, it was unknown where the suspect had fled. A security guard, at the request of the police, checked security camera footage and found a person holding what appeared to be a handgun descending the stairs next to SHIBUYA STREAM. The information obtained from the footage was also shared with the police, leading to the search.

Left: Shibuya Police officers rush to the scene after receiving a call. Right: Security guards and police officers assess the situation at the scene.

Soon, gunshots were heard from the direction of the stairs, and people playing the role of passersby came running. Security guards called out, "It's dangerous here," and guided them away from the scene. There was also a scene where someone playing the role of a criminal, armed with what appeared to be a handgun, took a hostage. While the police unit responded, the security guards moved the passersby away from the scene. Afterwards, the police unit apprehended the person playing the criminal.

Left: A passerby flees in panic after hearing a gunshot. Right: The perpetrator points a gun at a passerby who has fallen.

A training exercise to deal with a criminal who has taken passersby hostage who were unable to escape in time.

The training revealed a process where security guards relay what they see and hear at the scene to the police, and where security camera footage is added to understand the situation. It also confirmed what information the facility and police would share, given the simultaneous need to attend to the injured, search for the perpetrator, and evacuate the surrounding area.

A scene where police officers, armed with bulletproof shields, suddenly surround the suspect and throw him to the ground.

Shibuya police officers apprehend and arrest the person playing the role of the suspect.

Security dog finds bag; robot transports suspicious object

In the second part, a suspicious object disposal drill was conducted, simulating the possibility of explosives being planted at the site. A security dog searched several bags placed on the deck and found a suspicious object. The police's explosive ordnance disposal unit entered the scene and used a specialized robot to check the condition of the exterior.

Left: A Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department security dog sniffs a bag placed on the deck. Right: A security dog reacts to the smell of gunpowder and sits down.

Left: A robot with an arm to remove a suspicious object appears. Right: A team member in a protective suit irradiates with X-rays.

続いて、防護服を着た隊員が不審物をX線で撮影。内部の状態を調べた結果を踏まえ、爆発物処理部隊は現場から運び出すことを決めた。ロボットのアームで不審物を慎重につかみ、搬送用の資機材に収納。隊員が現場から運び出すまで、参加者は一連の作業を見守った。

A team member in protective gear approaches an explosion-proof container carrying a suspicious object.

The robotic arm grasps the suspicious object and extends it to move it into the explosion-proof container.

Shibuya Police Station Calls for Cooperation with Facilities, Including Demonstration Training of Security Dogs

Following the suspicious object handling training, a demonstration of security dogs was also held. The person in charge explained that security dogs are responsible for searching for explosives as well as for searching for missing persons at disaster sites. A four-year-old German Shepherd named Mars walked, jumped over obstacles, and searched for the scent of hidden gunpowder, following the instructions of the person in charge. When he finds the scent of explosives, he will alert the person in charge by sitting or lying down.

Left: Secretly hiding gunpowder inside a bag. Right: Guard dog "Mars" sniffing each bag one by one.

Left: This bag also appears to be incorrect. Right: The Mars, having successfully detected the explosives by smelling gunpowder, discovers the explosives.

After the training, Shibuya Police Chief Isamu Tanaka said, "Shibuya is a city where many people gather. The Shibuya Police Station will continue its efforts to prepare for incidents, but the police cannot do it alone. With the cooperation of everyone who participated, we want to protect a safe and secure city. Let's continue to protect the city of Shibuya together."

Shibuya Police Chief Isamu Tanaka giving a closing address at the end of the training.

In July, a joint flood prevention drill involving facilities and railway operators was also held around Shibuya Station. This drill provided an opportunity for the facility, which was the first to become aware of the incident, to confirm how to ensure the safety of the injured and the surrounding area, and to relay the collected information to the police.
 

Finally, a commemorative photo was taken with police officers, facility security guards, area managers, and other related personnel.

Interview and writing: Takine Oyamada / Photography: Jun Tomiyama

Venue