[part 1] [part 2]
The Cabinet Office Japan recently released a survey into people’s thoughts about public safety in Japan. 3,000 people aged 20 or older were chosen by random, and between the 14th and 24th of December 1,795 of them, or 59.8%, took part in face-to-face interviews. Of those who did not participate, 124 had moved, 79 were on long-term absenses from home, 365 were not at home, 58 could not be found, 514 refused to participate, and 65 did not take part for other reasons. Demographically, 54.1% were female, 8.9% between 20 and 29, 15.0% between 30 and 39, 16.9% between 40 and 49, 21.9% between 50 and 59, 20.7% between 60 and 69, and 16.7% aged 70 or older.
The “gaijin hanzai” comment is related to the uproar regarding of widespread availability of a magazine playing on precisely the fears expressed in this survey.
I was surprised by the results in Q11 – my sterotypical image of the Japanese is that on the whole they would tend to help the police to the best of their efforts, but we see that they have reservations, especially if the crime is a relatively minor one that doesn’t involve family or friends.
Q7: How do you obtain information regarding crimes and public order? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
Television, radio |
95.5% |
Newspapers |
81.1% |
Talking to friends and family |
38.4% |
Local government pamphlets |
25.8% |
Internet |
21.6% |
Magazines |
11.6% |
Police pamphlets |
11.5% |
Mobile phone site |
4.5% |
Other |
0.3% |
Don’t get any information |
0.2% |
Don’t know |
0.1% |
Q8: Do you think there is sufficent information offered by the police or local government regarding crime? (Sample size=1,795)
Sufficient information |
3.6% |
Somewhat sufficient information |
25.6% |
Somewhat insufficient information |
49.7% |
Insufficient information |
19.3% |
Don’t know |
1.8% |
Q9: What sort of information should be offered by the police or local government regarding crime? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
Information regarding crimes occurring in the neighbourhood |
62.2% |
Information of the modus operandi of purse snatchers, etc |
39.2% |
Information on Neighbourhood Watch schemes and other volunteer activities |
38.4% |
Videos of murderers or violent thieves captured on security cameras |
37.7% |
Information on how to pass on information or otherwise how to co-operate with investigations |
35.9% |
Victim support group information |
32.1% |
Internet information security information |
26.7% |
Information on effective anti-crime goods |
19.6% |
Information on government-sponsored anti-crime events, etc |
13.8% |
Information regarding international terrorist organisations, etc, and their activities |
12.9% |
Other |
0.4% |
None in particular |
2.6% |
Don’t know |
1.6% |
Q10: If you see a crime occurring, or hear screams, etc, do you contact the police? (Sample size=1,795)
Always contact police |
56.7% |
Depending on circumstances, contact police (to SQ1, SQ2) |
41.1% |
Don’t contact police (to SQ2) |
1.7% |
Don’t know |
0.5% |
Q10SQ1: In what circumstances do you contact police? (Sample size=738, multiple answer)
When I see a murder or violent theft |
78.3% |
When a close friend or relative is a victim |
77.6% |
When I heard loud noises or screams in a familiar place |
53.7% |
When I see a suspicious character |
27.8% |
When close to a police station or police box (koban) |
24.7% |
When I have the time |
11.4% |
Other |
0.3% |
Don’t know |
0.3% |
Q10SQ2: Why do you not notify police (sometimes or always)? (Sample size=769, multiple answer)
Afraid of reprisals by criminals |
33.6% |
Someone else will contact them |
21.2% |
Bothersome having to speak to police later |
17.6% |
It’s nothing to do with me, don’t want to get involved |
16.3% |
Too busy with work, etc |
10.8% |
There’s no phone or other convenient means of contacting them |
10.5% |
Don’t know how to nofity them |
10.0% |
Awkward to approach police |
6.9% |
It won’t do any good |
0.9% |
Other |
7.2% |
Don’t know |
14.6% |
Q11: How would you cooperate with police regarding an incident? (Sample size=1,795)
Proactively cooperate |
34.7% |
Cooperate as required |
61.9% |
Not cooperate much (to SQ) |
2.3% |
Not cooperate at all (to SQ) |
0.6% |
Don’t know |
0.4% |
Q11SQ: Why would not cooperate with police? (Sample size=53, multiple answer)
Bothersome having to speak to police later |
32.1% |
It’s nothing to do with me, don’t want to get involved |
28.3% |
Afraid of reprisals by criminals |
24.5% |
Don’t know how it would be useful even if I cooperated |
20.8% |
Awkward to approach police |
17.0% |
Too busy with work, etc |
7.5% |
It won’t do any good |
5.7% |
Someone else will cooperate |
1.9% |
Other |
7.5% |
Don’t know |
0.0% |
Q12: What sorts of crimes should the police focus their effort upon? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
Murders, violent robbery |
63.6% |
Abduction of children, etc |
63.5% |
Drunk-driving traffic accidents, hit-and-runs and other traffic dangers |
61.6% |
Violent assaults |
53.7% |
Housebreaking whilst owner at home |
53.4% |
Fraudulent sales or money-forwarding schemes |
45.8% |
Pick-pockets, purse snatching |
39.4% |
Groping or other sexual assaults |
39.3% |
Theft of or from motor vehicles |
36.2% |
Drug pushing, drug abuse |
34.2% |
Bosozoku bike gangs’ dangerous riding, noise pollution, etc |
32.9% |
Internet crime |
32.8% |
Stalking |
29.5% |
Illegal dumping and other environmental crimes |
28.5% |
Loan-sharking |
28.1% |
Gun owning, smuggling, selling, etc |
23.9% |
International terrorist organisations or other terrorists |
21.6% |
Other |
0.6% |
None in particular |
1.6% |
Don’t know |
0.3% |
Q13: What kinds of individuals or organisations should the police focus their effort upon? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
Habitual criminals; thieves, etc |
60.5% |
Bosozoku or juvenile delinquent gangs |
53.1% |
Foreign crime gangs and illegal immigrants |
51.1% |
Yakusa and other organised crime |
45.0% |
Drug dealers or users |
33.8% |
International terrorist organisations or international terrorists |
22.5% |
Illegal businesses and other sex-related businesses |
21.6% |
Other |
0.2% |
None in particular |
3.6% |
Don’t know |
1.3% |
[part 1] [part 2]
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