Japanese rail companies consider CCTV

Train arrives at Osaka. Picture: www.upmain.com

Some of Japan’s TOCs are considering installing CCTV cameras on their trains but a number of women passengers, in a survey carried out by a Japanese national newspaper, said that they would feel uncomfortable if they knew that a camera was watching them, although some did counter this by adding that if it helped prevent crime they would be happy for CCTV to be placed in carriages.

Crime on Japan’s vast rail network is relatively rare and the proposal to fit CCTV is deemed, by some, not only an invasion of privacy but also of limited use, as many commuter trains are so busy that any evidence would be of limited use in identifying those guilty of criminal acts. Ceiling mounted cameras may show who is next to the victim, but not necessarily who has committed the crime.

Police have recently released figures from an online survey that showed 70% of respondents in favour of CCTV on trains if it helped prevent crime.

A number of Japanese TOCs are now in the process of deciding if installing CCTV poses a threat to passenger privacy.