- 1 -

Crime Situation in 2020

1 Situation

Number of Penal Code Offenses Known to the Police

Among the indicators for measuring the crime situation in our country, the total

number of known cases of penal code offenses has decreased consistently since

2003. In 2020, the number was 614,231, the smallest since the end of the Second

World War, following the previous year. In 2020, the rate of decrease was 17.9% over

the previous year, which was greater than that of the previous year. (In 2019, the rate of

decrease was 8.4% over the previous year.)

Looking at the breakdown of the decline in the number of known cases, the number

of street crimes and invasion crimes, which account for a large proportion of the total

number, has consistently decreased since 2003. Against the backdrop of a unified

promotion of comprehensive anticrime measures by police and civilians, the

dissemination of crime prevention equipment, and various other changes in the social

situation continued. (It was down 87.3% from 2002, when the number of known cases

of penal code crimes reached the highest level after the Second World War.) Last year,

the decrease in the number of known cases of street crimes was particularly

high. Although many different factors can cause an increase or decrease in the number

of crimes, one factor in the decrease is believed to be the decrease in the number of

people out of doors due to those self-restraints on going out to prevent infection from

the spread of COVID-19.

On the other hand, COVID-19-related crimes such as the burglary of closed stores

and fraudulent collection of subsidies associated with measures to counter the spread

of the coronavirus, are also occurring in response to the confusion caused by the

spread of the infection.

Effects from the change in social modes accompanying the spread of coronavirus

may continue to appear.

Reference 1 Emergency measures based on the Act on Special Measures against Novel Influenza,

etc. were implemented from April 7 through May 25 2020. Since April of the same year,

there has been a significant decrease in the number of reported street crimes over the

previous year. (April-December 2019 was down 11.8% year-on-year, and April-December

2020 was down 32.2% year-on-year.)

Special Fraud

The number of known cases of special fraud in 2020 was 13,550, the lowest in the

last five years, as a result of promoting a number of different measures. For example,

we worked together with prominent “influencers” who have power to affect public

opinion in public awareness campaigns based on the “Plan for Countermeasures

against “It’s Me” Fraud” determined at the Ministerial Conference on Countermeasures

against Crime in June 2019. However, while the total number of penal code offenses

known to the police has consistently decreased since 2003, the number of known

special fraud cases has remained at a high level: 2.0 times that in 2010, which was the

lowest since statistics have been compiled. Members and affiliates of organized crime

groups are seen involved in special fraud in leadership positions (the percentage of

- 2 -

members and affiliates of organized crime groups to total central suspects cleared was

45.0%).

Since 2018, there have also been many ways to target ATM cards such as ATM card

fraud and misappropriation, and the manner of crime is becoming more diverse and

sophisticated. Furthermore, a more stringent situation ongoing since 2019 involves

cases of seniors who incur damage from theft after being questioned over the phone

about their assets.

Reference 2 According to a questionnaire conducted by the NPA in September 2020 (a survey of

10,000 males and females aged 15 or older nationwide, conducted over the internet so that the

ratio of respondents by age, gender, and prefecture is based on 2015 census results), the

percentage of respondents indicating they experienced vulnerability to special fraud in the past

year was 11.0% (1,098 persons), and the percentage of respondents indicating they had

experienced special fraud in the past year was 1.3% (126 persons).

Threats in Cyberspace

Looking at indicators other than the number of known cases of penal code offenses,

the number of cleared cybercrime cases continues to increase, and the number of

unexpected connection attempts the NPA detects in cyberspace as apparent scanning

activities is also trending higher. The upward trend in the number of unexpected

connection attempts is believed to be due to factors such as an increased number of

targets available for attack due to the popularization of IoT devices and the constant

appearance of new malware. Also, the number of cases and amounts of damage in

relation to online banking fraud, which had been trending lower since 2016 due to

enhanced security measures at financial institutions, increased dramatically in

2019. Although both decreased from the previous year in 2020, the number of incidents

remains high. The number of child victims of crimes arising from social networking

services had also been trending higher since 2013 but decreased from the previous

year. However, the trend stayed at a high level due to cases of people who fell victim to

crime when they became acquainted with others in cyberspace and so forth.

Although it is difficult to use these indicators to accurately understand the state of

incidents, the threat in cyberspace continues to be a serious situation, given the wide

variety of cybercrime and cyber-attacks occurring both within and outside Japan in

recent years.

Reference 3 In the survey above, the percentage of people who responded that they had experienced

the risk of cybercrime damage in the past year was 21.8% (2,175 persons), and the

percentage of those who responded that they had been victimized by cybercrime in the past

year was 9.5% (949 persons).

- 3 -

Stalking, Domestic Violence, and Child Abuse

Despite a decrease in the number of consultations about stalking from the previous

year, the number of cases cleared has increased. Although the number of cleared

cases for domestic violence has decreased from the previous year, the number of

consultations has increased, and both indicators continue to remain at a high

level. Regarding child abuse, both the number of notifications of abuse cases and the

number of arrest cases have been on an increasing trend.

Although it is difficult to use these indicators to accurately understand the state of

incidents, the situation of stalking, domestic violence, and child abuse should continue

to be closely monitored.

Reference 4 In the survey above, 2.0% of respondents (203 persons) answered that they had

suffered damages from shadowing or stalking in the past year and 0.8% of respondents

(80 persons) answered that they had suffered damage due to domestic violence in the past

year.

Summarization

As described above, the total number of penal code offenses known to the police,

against the backdrop of various changes in the social situation, has been continuously

decreasing in recent years, primarily for the types of offenses and modus operandi that

make up a large percentage of the total. In 2020, the number of penal code offenses

known to the police drastically decreased compared to the previous year as a result of

the spread of COVID-19, etc. However, the crime situation is still difficult, given that it is

not necessarily understood from changes in the number of known cases and impacts

from changed social conditions resulting from the spread of COVID-19.

Reference 5 In the above survey, the percentage of people who are concerned about damage caused

by crimes, such as cybercrime is still large (for example, 75.3% (7,531 people) responded

that they “Am concerned” or “feel somewhat uneasy” about the danger of cybercrime), and

the percentage of people who answered “it’s not improving” or “it’s not really improving”

about the recent security situation is 56.2% (5,620 people), larger than the 34.4%

(3,435 people) who answered “it’s improving” or “it’s somewhat improving.”

- 4 -

2 Future Actions

In response to countermeasures, the modus operandi of crimes that are highly

anonymous and involve offenses by a perpetrator without face-to-face contact with

victims, such as the special fraud and cybercrimes continuing to produce high levels of

damage in recent years, are constantly changing. It’s also possible to repeat offenses in

a way that makes it difficult for traces of the crime to remain and increases the risk of

spreading damage.

Moreover, it is necessary to take measures against crimes such as stalking, domestic

violence, and child abuse that frequently occur in family and other private relationships,

considering that the nature of such crime creates a tendency to suppress them.

In addition, new lifestyle approaches established to prevent infection, the impact of

the spread of infection on the economy, and other changes in the social situation

associated with the spread of COVID-19 will continue to affect the crime situation.

Considering these criminal trends and social conditions, the police should not only

promote accurate investigations of incidents that occur, but also foster close

cooperation by sharing information on the occurrence of harm and criminal tactics with

relevant organizations and businesses and implement measures against criminal

tools. It is also necessary for the police to implement thorough measures such as

effectively raising public awareness to prevent damage before it occurs, including by

promptly warning people and quickly responding to consultations while keeping in mind

the possibility that damage may be concealed.

Moreover, in order to continue effective and efficient measures against crime in a

constantly changing modern society, the police must continue to accurately grasp

changes in social conditions from multiple indicators and improve analysis of the crime

situation, and to develop and use effective measures tailored to the subject and based

on such analysis.

Reference 6 For example, in the survey described above, more than 60% responded that they spent

less time on weekdays “Going out to restaurants, shopping, entertainment facilities, etc.” and

that they spent more time “At home”. Also, more than 30% responded that they did “Make

more use of the internet to buy items and settle payments”, and “Opportunities to use cash

decreased, while the use of cashless services increased”. This illustrates a situation in which

many were actually aware of self-restraints in order to prevent COVID-19 infection.

285.4

99.6

91.5

81.7

74.9

61.4

34 33 31 29 28

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

(units of 10,000 cases)

(Year)

No. of known cases (units of 10,000)

No. of cases cleared (units of 10,000)

Graph 1 No. of Penal Code Offenses Known to the Police

The number of known cases of penal code offenses in 2020 was 614,231, which was even lower than in

2019, the lowest in the post-war period. The number of cases cleared for penal code offenses

was 279,185, which was lower than in 2019.

Final values

1

22.4

10.39.5

8.67.8

7.26.5

5.94.9

0

5

10

15

20

25(Cases)

(Year)

Graph 2 No. of Penal Code Offenses Known to the Police per Thousand Population

The number of known penal code offenses per thousand population in 2020 was 4.9, falling further below

2019 (5.9 cases), the lowest in the post-war period.

* The population is the total population as of October 1 each yearin accordance with the population estimate of the Ministry ofInternal Affairs and Communications.

2

Final values

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

(units of 10,000 cases)

(Year)

No. of known cases excluding street crimes and

invasion crimes (units of 10,000)

No. of invasion crimes cases known (units of

10,000)

No. of street crimes cases known (units of

10,000)

The rate of decrease in the number of known cases of street crimes and invasion crimes since 2002, when the number of penal code offenses known to the police reached its highest since the end of World War II, was 87.3%. (The rate of decrease since 2002 for cases excluding the number of known cases of these crimes was 57.6%.) The number of known cases of street crimes was 199,268 in 2020, down 27.0% from 272,956 in 2019. The number of known cases of invasion crimes was 55,515, down 21.9% from 71,122 in 2019.

84.937.5

163.1

40.47.1

27.3

35.95.6

19.9

3

Final values Graph 3 No. of known cases of street crimes and invasion crimes

Graph 4 No. of known cases of street crime (by month)Final

values

Looking at the number of known cases of street crimes by month in 2020, the decline in and after April was particularly largecompared with the same period of the previous year.

Year-to-yearcomparison

2019 -9.5% -6.9% -13.8% -14.1% -12.5% -14.2% -11.4% -16.1% 0.2% -17.1% -14.4% -4.3%

2020 -8.4% -10.3% -5.8% -31.9% -43.2% -27.9% -38.5% -30.6% -32.9% -28.5% -23.8% -30.6%

4

January February March April May June July August September October November December

2018 22,272 19,812 23,604 25,698 28,439 26,169 29,191 29,459 25,937 29,998 25,622 22,174

2019 20,156 18,444 20,344 22,062 24,872 22,456 25,867 24,724 25,994 24,867 21,941 21,229

2020 18,472 16,538 19,154 15,035 14,118 16,198 15,914 17,160 17,435 17,782 16,730 14,732

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

(Cases)2018 2019 2020

Graph 5 No. of known cases of special fraud

The number of known cases of special fraud in 2020 was down 19.6% from the previous year to 13,550.

This figure is 2.0 times that of 2010, which was the lowest since statistics began to be collected in 2004,

and remains at a high level.

Final values

5

6,888 7,216

8,693

11,998

13,392 13,824

14,154

18,212 17,844

16,851

13,550

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)

(Year)

Graph 6 No. of cybercrime cases clearedFinal

values

The number of cybercrime cases cleared began to increase in 2012. It reached 9,875 in 2020,

up 3.7% from the previous year, and has increased 18.6% in the past five years since 2016.

6

6,933

5,741

7,334

8,113 7,905 8,096 8,324

9,014 9,0409,519

9,875

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)

Year

Graph 7 No. of unexpected connection attempts detected at the sensors as apparent scanning activities in cyberspace

The number of unexpected connection attempts detected at the sensors as apparent scanning activities in

cyberspace is trending higher since 2013. In 2020, the number of suspicious connection attempts detected at

the sensors per IP address per day is 6,506.4, an increase of 55.2% over the previous year.

Final values

310.1491.6

729.3

1,692.01,893.0

2,752.8

4,192.0

6,506.4

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020(Year)

7

(Count / day/ IP address)

With regard to unexpected connection attempts detected at the sensors as apparent scanning activities in cyberspace, the

amount of increase is remarkable for ports used for IoT devices, etc. (numbered 1024 and above) compared to ports widely

used for sending and receiving emails or accessing websites, etc. (numbered 1023 and below). The number of suspicious

connection attempts to the ports numbered 1024 and above per sensor per day in 2020 was 4,931.1, which has increased

8.1 times the number in the past five years since 2016.

Final values

119.7 239.1 356.3

1,075.5 1,054.9 1,034.01,325.9

1,527.7

180.5 242.1 362.3

606.4826.9

1,702.8

2,844.8

4,931.1

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020(Year)

~1023 1024~

8

(Count / day/ IP address)

Graph 8 No. of unexpected connection attempts detected at the sensors as apparent scanning activities in cyberspace (by destination port)

Graph 9 Online banking fraud

The number of cases of online banking fraud increased to 1,872 in 2019, an increase of 5.8 times the

previous year, with the amount of damages increased from about 5.5 times from the previous year to

about 2,521 million yen. In 2020, damages amounted to about 1,133 million yen, a decrease of about

55.1% from the previous year, but incidents numbered 1,734, remaining at a high level in spite of a

decrease of 7.4% from the previous year.

Final values

9

1,406

2,910 3,073

1,687

1,081

461

2,521

1,133

1,315

1,876

1,495

1,291

425

322

1,872

1,734

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)(Million yen)

(Year)

被害額（百万円）

発生件数（件）

Amount of damage (Million yen)

No. of cases

Graph 10 No. of child victims of crimes arising from social networking services

Although the number of child victims arising from social networking services was 1,819 in 2020, a decrease

by 12.6% from the previous year, the number trended higher starting in 2013, and has increased by 4.8% in

the past five years since 2016.

Final values

* The term "child" means a person under 18 years of age. The same applies hereafter.

10

1,239

1,085 1,076

1,293

1,421

1,652 1,736

1,813 1,811

2,082

1,819

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Persons)

(Year)

Graph 11 No. of consultations on stalking

Although the number of consultations on stalking decreased by 3.5% over the previous year, it has

remained at a high level, exceeding 20,000 cases since 2013.

Final values

16,176 14,618

19,920 21,089

22,823 21,968

22,737 23,079

21,556 20,912

20,189

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)

(Year)

11

Graph 12 No. of stalking cases cleared

The number of cases cleared for violation of the Anti-Stalking Act was 985 in 2020, a 14.0%

increase over the previous year and has increased 28.1% in the past five years since 2016. The number of

cases of penal code offenses and other law offenses was 1,518 in 2020, which increased 1.8% over the

previous year and 73.1% over 2010 and has remained at a high level.

Final values

877 786

1,504 1,574

1,917 1,872 1,919

1,699 1,594

1,491 1,518

229 205

351402

613677

769

926870 864

985

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)

(Year)

Penal code offenses and other law offenses

Violations of the Anti-Stalking Act

12

Graph 13 No. of consultations on spousal violence

The number of consultations on spousal violence cases has increased consistently since 2010 to become

82,643 in 2020, up 0.5% from the previous year, and has increased 18.2% in the past five years since 2016.

Final values

13

33,852 34,329

43,950

49,533

59,07263,141

69,90872,455

77,482

82,207 82,643

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)

(Year)

Graph 14 No. of cleared spousal violence cases

The majority of the number of spousal violence cases cleared are cases cleared for penal code offenses

and other law offenses that totaled 8,702 in 2020, a decrease of 4.3% from the previous year, but that has

increased 5.0% in the past five years since 2016.

Final values

14

2,346 2,424

4,103 4,300

6,875

7,914 8,291 8,342

9,017 9,090 8,702

86 72 121 110 120 106 104 80 71 71 76

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)

(Year)

Penal code offenses and

other law offenses

Violations of

protection orders

9,038 11,53616,387

21,603

28,923

37,020

54,227

65,431

80,252

98,222

106,991

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Persons)

Physical abuse Sexual abuse

Neglect Emotional abuse

Graph 15 No. of children notified to child guidance centers by the police in child abuse cases

The number of children notified to child guidance centers for child abuse cases has consistently increased

since 2010, reaching 106,991 in 2020, an increase of 8.9% over the previous year. The statistic has

increased by 2.0 times in the past five years since 2016.

Final values

70,7218,958

26418,279

78,3858,859

29519,452

15

(Year)

387 421521

514

740

822

1,0811,138

1,380

1,972

2,133

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

(Cases)

(Year)

Physical abuse Sexual abuse

Neglect Emotional abuse

Graph 16 No. of child abuse cases cleared

The number of child abuse cases cleared trends towards increase, with 2,133 cases in 2020, an

increase of 8.2% over the previous year. The statistic has increased by 2.0 times in the past five years since

2016.

Final values

5035

2461,641

4632

2991,756

16

Questionnaire Results

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1. “It’s me” fraud and other such fraud

2. Cybercrime

3. Stalking

4. Domestic violence

5. Theft and larceny

6. Assault and injury

7. Sex crimes

8. Murder and robbery

Level of concern about suffering damage from crime

Feel no anxiety Do not feel much anxiety Feel somewhat uneasy Am concerned I don't know

17

Questionnaire Results

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Do you think that Japan's security is improving

(becoming safer and more secure)?

It’s improving It’s somewhat improving

It’s not really improving It’s not improving

I don't know

18

Questionnaire Results

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Home

Means of transportation such as railway and bus

Work and school destinations

Restaurants, shopping facilities, recreational

facilities, and other destinations

How much more or less time per day (Monday-Friday) did you spend in each

location during the spread of COVID-19 compared to before the outbreak?

Substantially increased (50% or more) More (20% or more but less than 50%)

Slightly more (5% or more but less than 20%) There was almost no change (less than 5%)

Slightly less (5% or more but less than 20%) Less (20% or more but less than 50%)

Much less (50% or more)

19

Questionnaire Results

12.5

19.5

13.3

33.2

38.0

48.1

40.4

65.1

72.9

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0

Became interested in investments and side businesses

My income decreased

Started to see a lot of public relations campaigns that warned of fraudand the like

Opportunities to use cash decreased and to use cash services increased

Use of the internet to buy and settle payments increased

Spent more time accessing the internet from home

Spent more time in the same space as my family members

Went out for shorter periods of time (stayed home for longer periods)

There were fewer opportunities to meet and have contact with people

Activities that you believe changed in your life due to the spread of COVID-19(Multiple responses)

%

20