Crimes in Japan see first rise in 20 years as COVID measures eased

A noticeable surge in street crimes helped fuel a rise in crimes recorded by police across Japan in 2022 to 601,389 under the Criminal Code, up 5.9 percent from the previous year.

The figure had continued falling to a record post-war low until 2021, but it surpassed the previous year’s number for the first time in 20 years.

Considering the latest data and the recent spate of robberies that occurred across Japan, the National Police Agency concluded, “Japan is facing bleak situation in regard to crime.”

According to NPA preliminary data released on Feb. 2, street crimes such as bicycle thefts saw a rapid rise. 

Last year, 201,619 street crimes occurred, 14.4 percent more than the previous year.

The NPA said the number rose partly because people returned to towns and cities as COVID-19 restrictions were eased. 

The number of crimes regulated under the Criminal Code that police tallied continued falling after peaking in 2002.

Since 2015, the figure had continued dropping to a record post-war low.

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, a sharp decline in the figure was noted, with the number falling by 17.9 percent from the previous year.

In 2021, the figure dropped by 7.5 percent from the previous year.

According to the NPA, the monthly figures for all crimes regulated under the Criminal Code in February, March and April 2022 were fewer compared to the same months in the previous year.

The number of street crimes, which account for around one-third of all crimes regulated under the Criminal Code, was also lower in February, March and April 2022 compared to the same months in the previous year.

However, in both categories--all crimes regulated under the Criminal Code and street crimes--more were committed in and after May 2022 compared to the same months in the previous year.

The NPA said that there is a link between an increase in traffic flow and the rise in crime because data shows that pedestrian traffic increased in downtown areas after COVID-19 pre-emergency measures were lifted across Japan in March 2022.

Street crimes that noticeably surged last year included 128,891 bicycle thefts, up 20.9 percent from the previous year; 9,364 assaults, a 9.5 percent increase; and 6,581 crimes causing injuries, a 15 percent rise.

In addition, crimes of snatching people’s possessions on streets increased by more than 30 percent from the previous year.

The entire number of offenses that the NPA categorizes as “serious crimes,” such as murder, robbery and arson, reached 9,536, up 8.1 percent from the previous year.

However, the numbers of murders and robberies were almost the same as the previous year.

By contrast, rape and indecent assault cases rose by 19.3 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively, from the previous year, surpassing the figures from the year before for the second consecutive year.

The NPA data also shows that cybercrimes rose in 2022 including ransomware incidents, in which offenders encrypt victims’ data and demand a ransom for access.

In addition, a record number of children were referred to child consultation centers because of suspected abuse.

Also, cases of domestic violence against partners hit a record high in 2022.