Crime Crime in Japan increasing for the first time in 20 years

[thomas]

According to police data released today, the number of crimes recorded in Japan in 2022 rose for the first time in 20 years, apparently due in part to an increase in street crime as COVID-19 restrictions eased.

Compared to 2021, when the rate hit its lowest level in the postwar era, 2022 saw a rise of 5.9% (601,389 incidents).

In an online survey conducted by the National Police Agency in October last year, 67.1% of respondents felt public safety in Japan had declined over the past 10 years, possibly affected by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination in July as well as a number of stabbings in recent years. The 5,000 respondents, age 15 and older, cited random killings, defrauding by impersonation and child abuse as among crimes that came to mind. The negative perception comes after three people were knifed outside the University of Tokyo ahead of nationwide entrance exams in January last year, while a woman and her daughter were stabbed by a girl in the capital's Shibuya district in August. The country was additionally rattled by Abe's assassination on July 8, when the former prime minister was shot at close range during a campaign speech ahead of a national election. There have also been a number of attacks on trains and in train stations in recent years, including a knife attack on a Tokyo train on the night of Halloween in 2021 in which 17 people were injured.

Surges were seen

• at child consultation centres (with a record of 115,730 minors suspected to have been mistreated)
• in cases of domestic violence (84,493)
• in cases of stalking (19,129 consultations)
• in street crime, such as bicycle theft (201,619 cases, +14.4% from 2021)
• in special fraud cases (with total damage of 36.14 billion JPY, +28.2%)
• in ransomware cyberattacks against companies and organizations (+57.5%)
• in heinous crimes (+8.1%)

Paywall alert:

Crime in Japan rises for first time in 20 years

2022 number up from postwar low as street crime increases after COVID curbs eased

asia.nikkei.com

 

[mdchachi]

I wonder what a heinous crime is. Assault? Shooting former prime ministers?

 

[thomas]

The article mentioned "heinous crimes, such as murder". Sorry for the omission.

 

[Lothor]

I wonder what a heinous crime is. Assault? Shooting former prime ministers?

Bowing at an insufficient angle?