Japanese police have reported that the number of restraining orders issued against stalkers hit a record high last year. Authorities are studying new measures to address the problem of perpetrators using tracking tags.
The National Police Agency reported 19,567 stalking-related complaints in 2024. The agency issued 2,415 restraining orders to prohibit perpetrators from stalking under Japan’s anti-stalking law.
Authorities have seen a surge in cases in which perpetrators track victims’ locations via tracking tags and smartphone apps.
Complaints about location tags being attached to victims’ personal belongings have jumped to 370. Such devices – – designed to keep track of personal belongings — have become widely available.
Currently Japanese law does not bar the act of attaching tracking tags to someone else’s possessions.
The agency is considering new regulations — including setting up a legal framework — to address the problem.
Earlier this year, a woman was found dead in Kawasaki City, near Tokyo. Earlier she had complained she was being stalked by her former boyfriend, but police had not issued a warning or restraining order. The man was later arrested and indicted.
In light of the incident, the NPA has instructed police headquarters nationwide to implement thorough measures prioritizing victims’ safety.
