Tokyo, Oct. 19 (Jiji Press)–An expert panel of Japan’s National Police Agency held its first meeting Monday for discussions on requiring stalkers to wear GPS devices to prevent them from getting near their targets. The panel, made up of lawyers, university professors and family members of stalking victims, will also consider requiring perpetrators to get counseling or visit medical institutions. Based on proposals to be compiled by the panel, the NPA will study the possibility of revising the antistalking law. “The (stalking) damage is severe,” Yoshitaka Yamada, head of the agency’s Community Safety Bureau, said at the meeting. “I hope the panel will discuss the new system from a variety of perspectives to strengthen the protection of victims and measures against perpetrators,” he said. The proposed system may involve stalkers wearing GPS devices so that their locations are monitored. Warnings may be issued to avoid contact between stalkers and victims if they come within a certain distance. The agency looked into similar measures adopted overseas in preparation for the start of discussions by the panel. The panel will examine the pros and cons of the use of GPS devices, including from legal points of view, as the system would concern perpetrators’ privacy and freedom of movement. Discussions by the panel are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including how to select people who would wear GPS devices, how long the monitoring would continue, monitoring methods and the handling of victims’ location information. Possible counseling and medical treatment will be intended to rein in the strong psychological attachment and desire for control, which are often seen in stalkers. The panel will discuss ways to strike a balance between the utility of such measures and the restriction of rights, as well as who would be subject to such measures and details of hospital visits. The panel will also study the extent of police involvement in monitoring location information and checking in on medical examinations, as well as the selection of specific GPS devices. In 2025, there were 1,546 antistalking law violation cases for which Japanese police took action, while restraining orders were issued for 3,037 cases, with both figures marking record highs. In March this year, a woman was stabbed to death in Tokyo by a former boyfriend although a restraining order was in place. With some pointing to the limitations of measures taken under the current law, the Japanese government has called for new measures to be considered as soon as possible. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
