204 Japan police personnel disciplined in 2021; 59 over sexual matters

TOKYO -- Across Japan, 204 police officers and police force personnel were subject to disciplinary measures in 2021, with 59 -- the highest subset -- concerning sexual matters, the National Police Agency announced Feb. 10.

Twenty-five fewer officers were subject to disciplinary actions in 2021 than in 2020. Forty-one were arrested, eight fewer than the previous year. The totals for police personnel receiving disciplinary measures and being arrested were all-time lows since 2000, when records began.

Among the disciplinary measure cases were 23 individuals' dismissals, down six from 2020, 49 suspensions, two above 2020, pay cuts for 83 members, a decrease of 33, and reprimands for 49 individuals, a rise of 12.

The leading reasons for disciplinary action were engaging in inappropriate relationships and sexual offenses, with 59 people punished for them -- a drop of 32 from 2020. The second-largest cohort was the 30 personnel punished for theft, fraud, embezzlement and other incidents -- down 10 from 2020.

Among the cases deemed inappropriate relationships and sexual offenses, 13 people were disciplined for camera voyeurism, a decrease of eight, while 12 personnel received measures for indecent assaults -- a fall of three.

Six police employees received disciplinary actions for power harassment, up five from 2020, while 16 divulged confidential information, up 13.

Among 41 personnel arrested, 16 of them -- the highest number -- were involved in obscene acts such as indecency through compulsion and camera voyeurism.

(Japanese original by Naritake Machida, Tokyo City News Department)