Tuesday, March 1, 2011

"Keio train equipped with antigroping cameras"

From today's Japan Today:

Keio Electric Railway Co on Monday introduced surveillance cameras in one of its trains in an attempt to combat commuter groping. According to Keio, which operates trains linking Shinjuku with the western Tokyo suburb of Hachioji, four cameras were put in the ceiling of one of the 10-car trains on the Keio Line.

The locations of the cameras, which are in car No. 6, were decided based on reports about gropings blamed on “chikan” (perverts), Keio said. The railway plans to install surveillance cameras on another train this month, it said.

The Metropolitan Police Department said 86 known groping cases were reported on the Keio Line last year, making it the worst railway for riders.

Keio is the second railway to adopt onboard cameras. East Japan Railway started using them on the JR Saikyo Line in December 2009, according to the transport ministry.

The cameras record images while the train is in operation, Keio said, adding they could be handed to police as evidence.

“We have decided to introduce surveillance cameras based on a police request,” a Keio spokesman said. 

“But we will carefully consider how we should expand surveillance because privacy issues are involved here.”

Link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/keio-trains-equipped-with-antigroping-cameras


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