A: Hey there! Did you catch the latest news?

B: Nope, what's up?

A: Well, the Japanese police are going to allow interpreters to help with phone calls during interviews for foreign suspects. It seems crimes involving foreigners are increasing all around Japan.

B: Oh really? So right now, about 4,200 cops and 9,600 private interpreters handle in-person interrogations and sign statements, but they're facing some difficulties, like responding quickly to emergencies or finding interpreters for less common languages.

A: Exactly! So the National Police Agency changed their rules to allow remote interpreting from distant areas. If they can't come in person, they can go to a nearby station and phone it in.

B: That makes sense. But they still prefer in-person interpretations if possible, right?

A: Absolutely! The new rules will start on July 1st. Last year, foreign visitors were responsible for around 21,800 offenses, and almost 12,200 were suspected of being involved. While the numbers have been going down in the past, they've been on an upward trend recently.
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Japanese police are set to allow interpreters to help interview foreign suspects by phone as crimes involving foreign nationals are on the rise across the country.



Currently, about 4,200 police officers and staff who speak foreign languages and around 9,600 interpreters in the private sector take part in interrogations in person and sign confession statements.



But police are facing the need to swiftly respond to an emergency and to secure interpreters specialized in minor languages.



The National Police Agency has amended its criminal investigation rules, enabling interpreters living in remote areas to provide their services remotely.



In principle, they are required to interpret in person if they can.



But if they cannot, those living in distant areas can go to a nearby police station and provide interpretations over the telephone to those in an interrogation room at another police station.



The new rules are set to go into effect on July 1.



The National Police Agency says foreign visitors committed 21,794 criminal offenses last year. A total of 12,170 were suspected of involvement.



The figures were significantly lower than the peaks in the past, but they have been on the rise in recent years.