Photo/Illutration The first meeting of a National Police Agency panel on anti-stalking regulations in October (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The revised anti-stalking law has been enacted to cover such acts as using a GPS device to track a target individual.

The law had no provision to prohibit obtaining location information of a target without his or her consent.

Police have dealt with such cases by using a provision banning surveillance in areas around the target’s residence, workplace or school.

However, the Supreme Court last year struck down the application of the provision, which prompted the legislative initiative.

Progress in technology has expanded means available for stalkers.

We hope the latest revision will help deter stalkers and reduce the number of victims.

The law was established in 2000 following the murder of a female university student in Okegawa, Saitama Prefecture, in a stalking case.

The law has been amended several times to keep up with the times to expand the coverage to include serious cases involving emails and social media.

Cases could occur that cannot be properly handled under the current law.

Creating a standing forum for discussions among law enforcement authorities, experts and nonprofit organizations could be one way to keep track of changes and trends in society and initiate quick legislative responses.

Police receive more than 20,000 consultations annually over potential stalking cases, according to the National Police Agency. The number of cases police take action on has remained high at around 2,500 per year, including criminal counts of breaking and entering, intimidation and violence.

In stalking cases, the highest priority should be placed on protecting victims. It is necessary to continue to focus on improving access to counseling, securing shelters and providing economic support.

Bitter lessons from cases where poor initial responses led to tragic results should not be forgotten.

It is also important to discourage stalkers from their behavior.

Some are not deterred by warnings and restraining orders from police and public safety commissions. Counseling and medical treatment may be necessary to help stalkers overcome excessive fixations and desires to control others.

Medical and psychological approaches have been incorporated to prevent sex crimes and rehabilitate sex offenders.

An effective treatment program should also be established for stalkers by accumulating relevant knowledge and experience.

For five years, police departments across the nation have been working with local psychiatrists to encourage stalkers to receive expert counseling.

However, only 124 of the 882 offenders contacted by police agreed to receive treatment last year. The recipients paying for the treatment cost and the limited number of medical institutions are among factors behind the low ratio.

Some local governments, including Fukuoka and Kyoto prefectures, provide public funding for counseling.

Another worthwhile idea is to offer counseling services not only for stalkers but also for their families.

Efforts to help rehabilitate stalkers should be stepped up to protect victims and ensure their security.

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 28

Related News