SAGA (TR) – Saga Prefectural Police announced on July 24 the formation of a specialized oversight team aimed at preventing future misconduct, following a major scandal in which a former crime lab employee repeatedly falsified DNA test results, reports the Sankei Shimbun (July 25).
The 12-member task force, which officially launched on July 1, is headed by the chief of the Police Administration Division and includes personnel from both the criminal investigation and police administration departments.
According to police, the team is tasked with monitoring the implementation of preventative measures outlined in a final report following a special inspection by the National Police Agency.
Furthermore, the team will oversee independent, locally established protocols, such as mandating the presence of a supervisor during forensic analysis and enforcing strict ethics training for lab staff. The team will also be responsible for drafting new countermeasures should the need arise.
Speaking at a regular press conference, Saga Prefectural Police Chief Hideyuki Fukuda expressed confidence in the new protocol.
“By driving these inspections forward as a dedicated team, the effectiveness of our countermeasures will be enhanced,” Fukuda said.
