Railways consider the merits of CCTV in carriages

After meeting with the National Police Agency last month, Tokyo-area railways are now back in their boardrooms to consider the option of CCTV in carriages as a possible deterrent to gropers and other criminals. Although it is denied by the police it is thought that during their meeting the NPA pressed for such a move:

…officers from Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba showed carriers the results of an online survey in which more than 70 percent of the respondents said they wouldn’t mind surveillance cameras on trains if they prevent groping.

However, the likelihood that surveillance cameras would be effective in reducing crime on trains is still very much uncertain and Tokyo carriers will need to feel the ¥300, 000-¥400, 000 (€2.300-€3.100) installation cost is justified.

Full story HERE

JR East to launch drive against molestation

The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that JR East has begun it’s first independant campaign against groping on trains.

I was under the impression that an anti-groping initiative was already under way, but perhaps this marks the first ‘serious’ and on-going attempt to raise awareness and deter potential Chikan.

The full story is HERE

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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