NAHA ¨C U.S. military police will conduct a patrol in Naha in the early hours of Nov. 1, in an effort to prevent a recurrence of sexual assault cases involving U.S. military personnel in the prefecture, sources said Thursday.
This is believed to be the first time the military police will conduct a solo patrol in downtown Naha, which is not near U.S. bases.
The military police, who have law enforcement powers, informed the municipal government of their patrol plan on Tuesday.
¡°We understand (the patrol) as a self-help effort by the U.S. side,¡± a city official said.
In April, the military police, the Okinawa Prefectural Police and others jointly conducted a patrol in a downtown district near a U.S. base in the city of Okinawa. The U.S. military later conducted a solo patrol there, resulting in an arrest.
Patrols that do not involve law enforcement are conducted in downtown and other areas across Okinawa, including Naha, according to the military.
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