Aug. 11, 2012 - 04:45PM JST
TOKYO —
Reports of police misconduct in the first half of this year have increased 23% over 2011, the National Police Agency says.
According to agency statistics, 205 police officers were disciplined in the first half of 2012, including 31 whose infractions were deemed serious enough to warrant dismissal. The NPA said the number is the highest since the police reform act of 2000 and could indicate a state of crisis in terms of police scandals affecting the public trust, Sankei Shimbun reported.
Police misconduct hit the headlines again this month when a police officer took a minor to a beach in Osaka, plied her with alcohol and allegedly raped her.
The NPA also reported a sharp increase in the number of dismissals, such as those that occurred in Kanagawa this year, due to police officers forging official documents and inventing non-existent cases to boost their statistics. Other examples cited of misconduct include sexual harassment, filming upskirt videos and drunken behavior, the NPA report said.
The NPA has announced plans to improve police education and selection, to ensure that corrupt officers are weeded out at an early stage, Sankei reported. The agency also plans to introduce a regular assessment of each officer’s “sense of duty and professional pride” in an attempt to win back the public’s trust.
Japan Today
21 Comments
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wontond at Aug. 11, 2012 - 03:15PM JST
Nothing surprising here.
CrazyJoe at Aug. 11, 2012 - 03:23PM JST
Who's going to defend the laws of Japan if cops can't?
ExportExpert at Aug. 11, 2012 - 03:49PM JST
A real bunch of rabble this lot, forging documents, making up crimes, molesting, raping, making upskirt vidoes, drunkeness all while on duty, makes you wonder what they get upto in their spare time doesn't it.
smithinjapan at Aug. 11, 2012 - 04:00PM JST
"The NPA also reported a sharp increase in the number of dismissals, such as those that occurred in Kanagawa this year, due to police officers forging official documents and inventing non-existent cases to boost their statistics. Other examples cited of misconduct include sexual harassment, filming upskirt videos and drunken behavior, the NPA report said."
One of the things that amazes me about this nation is what it takes for someone in politics, police, or clearly the nuclear village to get fired. I mean, the above actions, and especially forged documents and sexual assault, deserve JAIL time, not just dismissal. They are the police, and yet they commit very, very serious crimes... it's incredible.
If they wonder why the stats are increasing, perhaps they ought to look at the lax hiring practices and the even more lax punishment for police who commit crimes. But I guess it's just one more facet of Japanese society where people can get away with murder, so to speak -- kids now know they can in school, so acts of violence and bullying are on the rise with little to no disciplinary action. These are the people who grow up to become police or take other jobs with equal or little punishment for their actions. Is it any wonder, really?
The_True at Aug. 11, 2012 - 06:29PM JST
Superman!!! lol
Denon at Aug. 11, 2012 - 06:36PM JST
The only statement here about sexual assault is still alleged and not proven and not included in your quote. If you want jail time, you will have to wait, not assume its being swept under the rug.
That is unless you were talking about sexual harassment and upskirt videos, and neither of which are sexual assault. Unless you mean the times that for some reason, they get sexual assault and sexual harassment confused.
mojoe74 at Aug. 11, 2012 - 06:57PM JST
The world need to raise the bar for police job qualifications than just a high school education.
kaminarioyaji at Aug. 11, 2012 - 08:50PM JST
It's a very sad state of affairs indeed when your "finest" is riddled with criminals, and can only muster "barely competent" at their best.
hobart_mark at Aug. 11, 2012 - 09:29PM JST
Having had first hand experience dealing with Japanese law enforcement, I can tell you it is 3rd world at best. But, the majoirty of those working in the Japanese legal system are honest and hard working people. The llegal system is a totally different story howver....
Michael Craig at Aug. 11, 2012 - 10:46PM JST
Replace the police with public security forces.
Michael Craig at Aug. 11, 2012 - 10:49PM JST
Better yet, they should scrap the whole Penal Code. The only law of Japan should be its Constitution!
whiskeysour at Aug. 11, 2012 - 11:01PM JST
Hahahah !!!! Sounds like NIGHTMARE !!!!
If nobody is watching them, they can do whatever they like.
GaroJ at Aug. 12, 2012 - 12:58AM JST
'Police misconduct' is a bit weak a term for this I think.
Bob Sneider at Aug. 12, 2012 - 01:00AM JST
Maybe hiring some foreign police men would help; it's obvious the people here can't look after themselves.
Michael Craig at Aug. 12, 2012 - 02:10AM JST
My error! I meant to say, private security companies.
Michael Craig at Aug. 12, 2012 - 02:14AM JST
Private security services. Plus, disband the NPA and NPSC, too while we at it!
It'll save the country more money.
smithinjapan at Aug. 12, 2012 - 12:11PM JST
Denon: "That is unless you were talking about sexual harassment and upskirt videos, and neither of which are sexual assault."
It was proven that a cop stopped and raped a woman under a bridge a couple years back, but we never heard about what happened to him after that.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/ex-cop-arrested-over-rape-in-underground-passageway-in-kumamoto
They use the word 'alleged' because it would be libel to say they did it before the court declares they are guilty. Doesn't mean they didn't. They still deserve the jail time when its proven they are guilty. And lest we forget all the cases of police getting drunk, crashing their cars (women and men), abandoning their kids after crashing (okay, only the one woman, but still), and claiming they were never their and not drunk. The cops here are a disgrace, bottom line, and clearly the punishments are as well.
Amidalism at Aug. 13, 2012 - 11:10AM JST
I'm surprised the number isn't higher!
Wakarimasen at Aug. 13, 2012 - 11:15AM JST
Anyone who has dealt with J cops knows that they are a mixed bunch. Some are hard working and honest and try to do a good job while others are just useless. Racist, rude, xenophobic and out to make life miserable for all and sundry. The whole J justice system is also pretty sucky and doesn't incentivise the goos ones to be good. Mystery is why crime here is so low given the state of the satsu and the system.
waltery at Aug. 13, 2012 - 11:50AM JST
Just clearing out the dead wood. Next gen will be fine as with other contries.
David C. Couper at Aug. 13, 2012 - 07:02PM JST
Something we don't expect to hear from Japan. But problems with police, in a democracy or not, continue to challenge society. Of course it is a lot easier to talk about reforming them than doing it. For the most part, police throughout the world are the same. And the same insights and direction for improving them hold true. Police should be well-trained, restrained in their use of force, honest, and courteous to all. To take a look at how to improve police, see “Arrested Development: A Veteran Police Chief Sounds Off About Protest, Racism, Corruption and the Seven Steps Necessary to Improve Our Nation’s Police” (Amazon.com in US and EU). My blog is at http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com where I discuss these and other current police improvement issues. Good luck and may we all experience not just good but great policing in both our countries!