Japan police to deploy body cameras nationwide by fiscal 2027

Japan's police force is set to adopt body-worn cameras across the nation by fiscal year 2027, following successful trials that demonstrated their effectiveness. The National Police Agency announced the expansion, citing the cameras' utility in providing crucial evidence and verifying that investigative procedures were conducted appropriately.

The agency has formally requested approximately 170 million yen, equivalent to about S$1.4 million, for the fiscal year commencing April 2027. These funds are earmarked for the acquisition of around 2,000 cameras, covering the necessary costs for this nationwide rollout.

Initial trials, which began in September 2025, involved 13 prefectural police departments across various operations, including community affairs, traffic enforcement, and crowd control. In one instance, footage from a community affairs trial in Fukuoka was used as evidence in a case where a man assaulted an officer mediating a dispute while being recorded. Another case saw video evidence confirm that a suspect's claim of forced questioning in a drug-related case was unfounded.

Traffic enforcement trials in Niigata, Aichi, and Kochi prefectures also yielded positive results, with supervisors reviewing footage on approximately 160 occasions to ensure officers adhered strictly to procedures when stopping drivers. Some drivers reportedly welcomed the camera recordings of questioning, viewing it as a measure of accountability.

Year-long trials for crowd control in public spaces, such as event venues and train stations, are currently underway in nine prefectures, including Hokkaido and Hiroshima. Despite the overall positive outcomes, the agency noted that in over 10 instances across the trials, individuals resisted being filmed. When consent could not be obtained even after explanations, the matter was escalated to an officer not equipped with a camera.

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Video footage provides an objective and accurate record of when something happened, who was involved and what they did.