Category: Police

by Michael Gillan Peckitt June 19, 2026 Number of comments0
Care Disability Hyogo Japan Mental Health Police

Teenage Girl Dies After Falling Ill; Family Sues Hyogo Prefecture and State, Alleging Illegal Police and Prosecutorial Investigation Was the Cause

The girl, who was 16 at the time and worked at a disability welfare facility in Hyogo Prefecture, had been arrested on suspicion of assault after restraining a service user who became violent. She was detained for 18 days. Although prosecutors ultimately decided not to indict her, she continued to suffer from eating disorders and other physical and psychological health problems, and died five months after her release.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 12, 2026 Number of comments0
Deaf Disability Japan Podcast Police Sign Language

A No News ‘Seijin no Hi’ [Podcast Episode]

No news on ‘Coming of Age Day!’ ‘Sign Language Link’ is provided by the Japan Foundation Telephone Relay Service, a general incorporated foundation based in Tokyo. When police officers leave a kōban or a residential police post, they put up a notice indicating their absence. By scanning the QR code on this notice with a smartphone or other device, users are connected to a video call, initiating a three-way conversation between the user, a sign language interpreter, and an officer at the police station.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt January 11, 2026 1
Barrier Free Crime Disability Japan Police

Gifu Prefectural Police Introduce ‘Sign Language Link’, Available Even if No Police Present

Sign Language Link is provided by the Japan Foundation Telephone Relay Service, a general incorporated foundation based in Tokyo. When police officers leave a kōban or a residential police post, they put up a notice indicating their absence. By scanning the QR code on this notice with a smartphone or other device, users are connected to a video call, initiating a three-way conversation between the user, a sign language interpreter, and an officer at the police station.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 11, 2025 Number of comments0
Blind Disability Japan Podcast Police

Yokohama Couple with Visual Impairments File Damages Lawsuit After Police Officers Enter Their Home Without Permission [Podcast Episode]

In the appeal trial of a lawsuit where a visually impaired couple residing in Isogo Ward, Yokohama City, is seeking damages from the prefectural police, alleging that police officers entered their home without permission, the prefectural police have newly asserted that “(even without sight) the movements of police officers can be understood by the sounds of their equipment.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt October 22, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Japan Para Sports Police Sports

Seminar held for Saga police officers to learn how to support people with disabilities ahead of the National Sports Festival for the Disabled

Ahead of the National Sports Festival for the Disabled, a seminar was held in Saga City for police officers to learn how to provide necessary support to people with disabilities. The National Sports Festival for the Disabled will be held in Saga Prefecture from the 26th to the 28th of this month.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt February 29, 2024 Number of comments0
Crime Disability Japan Mental Health Police

Ex-Police Chief Inspector Charged over Death in Custody of Man with Schizophrenia and Diabetes

A former chief inspector at the Aichi prefectural police received a summary indictment Wednesday over the death of a man in police custody in the central Japan prefecture.

The former chief inspector allegedly left the victim unattended while knowing that he was unable to eat or drink by himself and had difficulties communicating with others.

The police arrested the victim on suspicion of obstructing official duties and put him into the observation cell handcuffed and bound with rope after he acted violently at the police station. The victim had schizophrenia and diabetes.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 14, 2019 Number of comments0
Disability Intellectual disabilities Police

Hyogo prefectural police instructed pay compensation over illegal DNA collection from intellectually disabled man

“A man,41, from Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, who has autism due to severe intellectual disability, who sought damages of ¥ 16.5 million from the prefecture,  because his DNA was collected from prefectural police without consent. He was awarded 110,000 yen. The ruling was made at Kobe District Court on the 13th March. “