Arrests of foreigners in Japan up for 2nd straight year in 2014

TOKYO (TR) – The National Police Agency on Thursday announced that the number of foreigners arrested in Japan rose between 2014 and 2013, the second straight annual increase, reports Jiji Press (April 23).

Last year, the number of arrests of foreigners totaled 10,689, an increase of 805 over 2013. It was the first time in three years that the total eclipsed 10,000.

The largest increases over involved immigration violations (up 549 to 3,374) and theft (200 to 3,012).

By nationality, arrests of Vietnamese rose by the greatest margin (up 430 to 1,548) with shoplifting being the most common charge.

The total for Vietnam was second to China’s 4,382 apprehensions while the Philippines (803) ranked third, according to the Nikkei Shimbun (April 23).