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Due to decreased police presence, Japanese convenience stores increasingly act as de facto community safety centres. This includes responding to emergencies involving women and children, which can put employees in complicated and potentially life-threatening situations. The "safety station" initiative, a collaboration between convenience store chains and the NPA, began in the 1990s to leverage the omnipresence of combinis. While initially regional, it expanded nationwide in 2005, recognizing the valuable role these stores could play in enhancing community safety.
The activities include responding to women and children in crisis, looking out for seniors suspected of suffering dementia and preventing youth crime, with around 10 categories in total. These are carried out at the stores' discretion as part of the operating companies' social responsibility tasks. Nationwide, 56,719 stores were participating as of December 2023.
"Safety station" at Lawson in Sapporo (photo credit: Ito Haruka via Mainichi)
The activities include responding to women and children in crisis, looking out for seniors suspected of suffering dementia and preventing youth crime, with around 10 categories in total. These are carried out at the stores' discretion as part of the operating companies' social responsibility tasks. Nationwide, 56,719 stores were participating as of December 2023.
"Safety station" at Lawson in Sapporo (photo credit: Ito Haruka via Mainichi)
Japan convenience stores filling role as local safety refuges as police presence declines - The Mainichi
SAPPORO -- Japan's convenience stores are taking on tasks once handled by the dwindling number of local police boxes, instituting measures to respond
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