Japan police recognize record 1,394 child abuse victims in 2018

March 14, 2019

Tokyo--Japanese police detected 1,380 child abuse cases involving a total of 1,394 victims, aged under 18, in 2018, with both figures representing respective record highs, a National Police Agency survey showed Thursday.

The number of abuse cases rose by 242 from the previous year. Physical abuse was recognized in 79.3 pct of the total, and sexual abuse in 16.4 pct.

The number of offenders increased by 243 to 1,419. Biological parents were blamed in over 70 pct of the physical abuse cases. A total of 99 adoptive fathers and stepfathers, a record high, were accused of sexual abuse.

The number of victims was up by 226, with 36 children having died, down by 22. The proportion of dead victims hit a record low of 2.6 pct.

During the year, the police took a total of 4,571 children, up by 733, into protective custody in an urgent manner after finding that their lives were in danger. In 339 cases, police officers accompanied child consultation center workers to abuse scenes.

Meanwhile, the police notified child consultation centers across the country of suspected abuse against a record total of 80,252 children.

Of them, 71.6 pct apparently suffered psychological abuse, and 18.5 pct physical abuse. More than 60 pct of the suspected psychological abuse victims are believed to have been exposed to spousal violence.

The NPA plans to further strengthen collaboration with child consultation centers and schools, after poor information sharing among relevant local institutions was criticized over the death of a 10-year-old elementary school girl in Noda, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, in a high-profile abuse case earlier this year. Jiji Press