Posts Tagged ‘police’

Japanese police think they can use paintball guns to stop criminals

Cops in Shizuoka Prefecture show the press their new “color ball” launchers, which shoot non-lethal paintballs at criminals:

It has a laser pointer to help with aiming, but as the video clip shows, the police officers still need to spend some time at the shooting rage. Somehow a slow-moving motorbike evades their aim, and a parked car is hit instead.

Update: Gizmodo has picked up this story, and one of their readers has provided some very insightful commentary.

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Police rounding up foreigners in Tokyo and making them take drug tests?

Arudou Debito has received reports from that police in Tokyo have been rounding up foreigners as they leave bars in Roppongi/Shibuya and making them take urine tests. A few posters on the Gaijin Pot forums have also mentioned the practice.

Debito apparently called the Azabu Police Department today and confirmed that the drug tests were taking place. Here is part of the transcript he has posted:

DEBITO: Do you have warrants to ask for urine samples?
OFFICER TESHIMA: I don’t have to answer that. Depends on the situation.
DEBITO: But you can’t ask for urine samples without a warrant, right?
OFFICER TESHIMA: We don’t always need a warrant. Depends on the situation.
DEBITO: What situations do you not need a warrant?
OFFICER TESHIMA: I don’t have to answer that.
DEBITO: But if they give you their permission for a sample, you don’t need a warrant?
OFFICER TESHIMA: If they cooperate, we don’t need a warrant.
DEBITO: What if they don’t cooperate?
OFFICER TESHIMA: I’m not going to answer that.

The police officer said that tests were taking place, but he denied that only foreigners were being targeted.

Even if they aren’t just targeting foreigners, it is pretty troubling to think that police are attempting to take urine samples from people on the street. Hopefully someone in the media will contact the police and try to get more information.

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Crackdown on illegal foreigners in Roppongi

Last night, a task force of some 220 police and immigration officers descended upon the Roppongi area of Tokyo, tightening their crackdown on illegal activities by foreigners in that neighborhood [the area, known for its overly-aggressive street touts and shady bars, was recently mentioning in a safety warning from the US embassy]:

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TV announcer faces charges after holding a rifle in his hands

Their crime? Allowing Noburo Harada to simply hold a hunting rifle during a live broadcast on a local TV network show without having first obtained official permission. Harada was visiting a hunting club in the town of Yogocho for the January 17 edition of the “Tokimeki Saga’s” show when one of the members handed him the rifle. Harada is not a registered gun owner and the law states that permission must first be obtained from the prefectural public safety commission. In accordance with the Swords and Firearms Control Law, Saga prefectural police are investigating he incident, produced by the local Biwako Housou. Police have questioned Harada and carried out a search of the company’s premises and are thought likely to file charges.

The rifle club member who allowed Harada to hold his rifle for several seconds did not realize that such a small act would be considered a crime by the police, and he is very apologetic about what has happened.

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Japanese police to drive electric cars

Autoblog Green and ATV report on how police in Kanagawa prefecture will be driving electric cars:

The fuzz in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture are getting a new ride, and while it’s certainly not going to come out as the victor in a high-speed pursuit, it should handle lighter duties just fine. The car, as you can see above, is a Mitsubishi i MiEV, and the delivery of the unit to the police department for testing appears to mark the first such use of an i MiEV by a Japanese organization other than a power company. Kanagawa Five-O will evaluate the car through March of 2009, and Mitsubishi will regularly collect test data for further analysis.

Complaints about G8 summit security

Anti-globalization protesters and people that need to throw away trash aren’t the only ones out there who are taking issue with security measures being taken across Japan for the G8 Toyako Summit.

The AFP has a report about the reaction of local residents to the beefed-up security:

Ano also runs a bar where he said the number of customers has tumbled nearly 40 percent in the past month.

“With this many policemen patrolling in the town people don’t feel like going out and drinking,” he said. “It’s ridiculous to get excited and hype up the summit.”

Hotel workers also said tourism has decreased out of concerns that police may restrict activity as the summit approaches.

“When I was driving into town, police motorbikes happened to cruise ahead of me and police cars behind. It was like I was in a motorcade,” said a restaurant manager. “This is the world’s safest town now.”

Riot police buses cruise the streets, with locals playing gateball near a row of parked police patrol cars.

“I want to say ‘A summit? So what?’” said a worker at a souvenir shop who gave only her first name, Yumi.

“It’s a nuisance instead. Police are everywhere, questioning people and checking cars,” she said. “I know it’s their job but it’s unbearable that they are watching me.”

She was also skeptical of the Japanese government’s drive to showcase environmental protection at the summit, noting that roads in the area have been completely rebuilt.

“People are preaching about the environment but what they’re doing isn’t ecological,” she said, despite a G8 promotion badge on her chest saying “Love Earth.”

Debito Arudou’s latest Japan Times column complains about the summit security from the perspective of a non-Asian Japanese citizen facing racial profiling from the police:

I’ve likewise criticized the Hokkaido G8 Summit (Zeit Gist, Apr. 22) — not only as a waste of resources (an estimated $700 million spent, mostly on “security”), but also because police harass foreign-looking people as if they’re all potential terrorists.

Like me. On June 19, flying from Tokyo to Chitose Airport, Hokkaido, I was snagged by a plainclothes cop (a Mr. Ohtomo, Hokkaido Police badge #522874) for exiting baggage claim while Caucasian. He wanted to see my “gaijin” card, citing summit security. I told him I was Japanese. Then he demanded proof of that. Repeatedly. Missing my train, I said I would cooperate if he asked three Asians for ID.

He obliged, but the first Japanese businessman he buttonholed blew him off without breaking his stride. So I said, “If he needn’t show ID, neither should I. By law, you can’t ID citizens without probable cause, right?” He agreed, apologized for confusing me with a foreigner, and let me go.

After posting audio recordings of the incident on his blog, Debito submitted a protest letter to the Hokkaido police. The police have denied that they are engaging in racial profiling.

Others have also claimed that foreigners are being unfairly targeted by security. Kyodo News has reported that an organization called the G-8 Citizens Media Center Sapporo has complained about the treatment of foreign journalists coming to Japan to cover the summit. According to the group, Japanese authorities have been detaining and questioning foreign reporters for prolonged periods of time.

Any readers care to share their personal experiences with the increased security measures?