Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi expressed readiness Sunday to take legislative steps during the current Diet session to reform the nation's police system and restore public confidence.
Speaking at a news conference at a hotel here, Obuchi said he will quickly take action once the recently launched panel of experts completes its debate and sets a direction for reform.
"The Cabinet should . . . make a system so that (scandals) are not repeated. This should not be delayed by the dissolution of the Lower House and subsequent general election," he said, effectively ruling out a general election before the Group of Eight summit meeting scheduled to take place July 21-23 in Okinawa.
In response to a spate of scandals involving high-ranking police officers, the Council on the Reform of Police Systems began debating police system reform on Thursday. It will conclude its debates around the end of June or early July.