Police in Japan to trial wearable cameras from late August
The cameras will be used across community policing, traffic enforcement and public security divisions — such as during stop-and-search procedures or crowd control — to evaluate their effectiveness. The agency will also use camera footage to more objectively confirm whether officers' actions were appropriate in the event of an on-site dispute.
According to the NPA, the cameras will be mounted on officers' uniforms at chest level or attached to helmets. Filming will be limited to outdoor settings or areas with unspecified public access. Officers will clearly indicate when recording is taking place using illuminated lights, stickers or armbands.
For community policing, a total of 39 cameras will be distributed among police departments in Tokyo as well as Osaka and Fukuoka prefectures. They will record continuously from the time an officer leaves a police box or station until their return, capturing patrols and interactions such as stop-and-search procedures. Recording will be paused when responding to crime victims or entering homes to protect privacy.
For traffic policing, 18 cameras will be allocated to police departments in Aichi, Niigata, and Kochi prefectures. These will record from the start to the end of traffic enforcement activities, except when officers are issuing tickets for traffic violations.
The recorded footage will be stored at police stations. If complaints arise regarding police interactions or enforcement, the videos will serve as material for verifying the circumstances. Footage that captures criminal activity may also be used in investigations. Unused footage will be deleted after approximately three months.
For public security, 19 cameras will be distributed across nine prefectures, including Hokkaido and Ishikawa. They will be used to livestream crowd conditions during large events such as fireworks festivals, aiding command centers in situational awareness and management. These videos will be automatically deleted after one week.
The trial will span three months for community policing, six months for traffic, and one year for public security.
The NPA will examine the cameras' effectiveness, any challenges and differences compared to devices such as dashboard cameras. Results will be published on the agency's website and other platforms as part of preparations for the cameras to be implemented nationwide as early as fiscal 2027.
Translated by The Japan Times
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