The number of crimes by foreigners in Japan has been increasing, with a record 40,615 incidents reported by police in 2003. As the number increases, criminals are becoming more daring and violent, say police.

On June 24, a gang believed to be Korean pickpockets attacked a station worker and a railway passenger after botching a heist. One of the suspects was caught by police while fleeing. He later identified himself as Son Chang Mo, 40, from South Korea.

The group had stolen a wallet containing about 50,000 yen from an 80-year-old woman on the stairway at the exit of Denen-Chofu Station in Ota Ward. A 32-year-old male railway passenger and a 32-year-old station worker chased Son and another man believed to be among the thieves to a platform, where two of the gang attacked the pursuers with a knife, cutting the passenger on a finger, and sprayed the railway worker with pepper spray before getting away, according to the police.



The police say the incident is another case of theft involving armed thieves from South Korea. They say 1,500 such theft cases occurred last year in Tokyo and there have been 454 cases this year.

The galling thing for police is that Son had been arrested once before. He was caught trying to rob a woman at Ginza station in 1991 and deported in June of 1992.

Many foreigners arrested for crimes over the last few years have said that one of the reasons they ply their trade in Japan is that Japanese police are too lenient toward foreign criminals.

One Japanese police officer, assigned to deal with foreign crimes, confirmed as much. "I always ask them why they come to Japan. They answer that they would prefer to go to America, but they are afraid of American police because they'll fire at them no matter what the crime. In Japan, police seldom fire at offenders. These guys are certainly afraid of being arrested, but they are not afraid of the Japanese police force itself."

One Chinese criminal who was deported without serving any jail time said: "Depending on the crime, foreigners are usually released from jail within a few months or year after being convicted. Japan rarely jails a foreigner for a first offense, preferring to deport him. That's why we decided to come to Japan. If I had been jailed in Japan, I could have watched TV in a clean cell. That never happens in Chinese jails."

A Japanese ex-con, who was released from a prison in Tokyo recently, said that he was told by a Chinese inmate that Japanese police are perceived as being stupid. "The Chinese insisted that he could not speak Japanese when he was first picked up by the cops and throughout the investigation. And they bought it. But the guy speaks Japanese fluently."

Hiroyuki Seto, author of "Gaikokujin Hanzai" (Crimes by Foreigners), says: "For most Japanese police, it is a hassle dealing with foreign suspects. For one thing, the language barrier hampers their investigation. That is why they have a tendency to repatriate foreigners without any real punishment. Lately, they have even become sensitive to prisoners' human rights while they are being detained. For example, they make sure Muslims aren't served pork. I think that is too kind for offenders who commit violent crimes." (Translated by Satoko Handa)

http://japantoday.com/e/?content=shukan&id=233

lol sums it up

sounds like a hotel to me...................a tv in each cell, you've got to be kidding me hopefuly i got it wrong..............

Notice how barker is the one that complains the most about these damned criminals. Yet he supports cush imprisonment at the same time. This is circular thinking.

the japanese police should learn other languages, not just for intergatting criminals, but when a tourist gets lost inn Japan, most of the time they turn to the police for help. Seriousily isn't THERE translators in Japan?

I dunno, but my ex korean gf, told me that Korean English speaking levels are not that high (average) but Korean Police Officers HAVE to understand atleast one more other language to be enlisted.

correct me if i am wrong, there is a TV in each cell? Thats LUXURY to many poor chinese, that may not be able to even afford a TV. Seriousily whats next a swimming pool? Room service?

Most outside people living in japan know some basic japanese. The same with tourists I would assume. There are plenty of japanese that speak second languages.



I don't think that is the case in japan. Perhaps it should be. Especially in areas that have high concentration of tourists.



I dont know if it is in each cell. I have never been to prison. Japanese prison ranges from luxury to neglected hell hole. I personally think that the japanese government should take lesson directly from chinese prisons and american police methods. Japan doesn't have a high crime rate but I feel that this would bring crime down even further.

yeah thats the problem, i read that article a few times, and i am pretty sure i read something like, 'i can watch tv from my cell"/

I know what you are talking about. I just don't know how many prisons have this.

There is a second language component in Japan for high schoolers but its not picked up with much enthusiasm as it should be. It like in the states theres an option to learn Spanish or French, kids take it but without it being necessary like over in Europe, its practically useless.

I've always been favourable of captial punishment, even for small crimes. Fuk rehabilitation, fuk geneva, and fuk those damned hippies that dont pay taxes and want more government services while paying nothing. China's prisons are already filled with criminals, same with Japan. Japan should just stick all non-behaving people, Japanese nationals or not on a boat and sink it. Hell, even the Chinese government could get into it, the PLAN needs combat training anyway. It'll improve bilateral ties.

Haha. That was great. I thought I was the only one that found the geneva to be ridiculous.

Our society is far too compassionate. A hand chopped off for theft, twigs and berries cut off for rape, stuff like that is needed.

Rule by fear, live in peace.