Japan expands anonymous crime tip system

September 18, 2023 Japan Crime & Legal

The National Police Agency of Japan has announced that its anonymous crime reporting system will be expanded on October 1, 2023. As part of Japan’s efforts to strengthen its anti-online-gambling measures, the improved system will now include the reporting of illicit gambling website operators.

The National Police Agency also revealed plans to increase the utmost reward for anonymous crime reports from the current JPY100,000 to JPY1 million (approximately US$6,783), a tenfold increase.

Initiated in 2007, the anonymous crime reporting system initially targeted particular categories of criminal behavior. The public was able to submit allegations via a dedicated website or telephone hotline. Alone in 2022, the system received over 27,000 reports, resulting in 45 cases of arrests. The Mainichi, a Japanese news publication, reported that a total of JPY530,000 was paid to informants who could be contacted by the police.

The initial emphasis of the system was on accumulating information regarding human trafficking and juvenile prostitution. The program was expanded over time to include crimes such as child abuse, gang-related activities, drug and firearm offenses, and telephone fraud.

In the impending expansion, operators of unlawful online casinos in Japan will be included in the reporting system. According to The Mainichi, the system will also encompass “anonymous and mobile crime groups,” which are groups with informal connections that frequently assemble and disperse via social media.

Japan is presently authorizing its first ever land-based casino, which will be located in Osaka. The project, a collaboration between MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corp, could receive final sanction from the national government as early as this month, according to Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President of MGM Resorts International. The integrated resort with a casino is anticipated to open in “autumn 2030,” as described by MGM Resorts, with an estimated project cost of $10 billion.

Original story by: GGRAsia