Surveillance cameras on J-Trains – will they help combat groping?

The groping that occurs on crowded Japanese trains is a real problem: Not only because of the distress it causes to the (mainly) female victims, but also due to the very real difficulty in actually proving guilt once an accusation has been made. Often, the only witnesses are the alleged victim and suspected groper or Chikan.

Now J-Police are to meet with East Japan Railway Co. and 15 other railways today at MPD headquarters to assert their position that surveillance cameras may at least encourage more debate on the issue:

The Nation Police Agency plans to set up a study group in fiscal 2010 to look into the proposal. The idea of putting surveillance cameras in trains has raised a host of questions about cost and privacy concerns, but the four police forces decided to push the issue, saying they hope the request serves as a “catalyst” for debate.

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