Kanagawa police suspected of passing expired licences to security unit for 30 years

Japan's National Police Agency said on 22 October that Kanagawa prefectural police are suspected of passing expired driver's licences, collected when drivers renewed them, to their security division. Mainichi Shimbun reported that the security division used the face photos as investigation material on extremists and right-wing figures. Nikkei reported that the practice appears to have continued for more than 30 years to collect face photos, and that the agency told the prefectural police to establish the facts and began a nationwide survey. [ 1 , 2 ]

According to Mainichi and TBS, the case came to light on 22 August, when 31 expired licences were found in a backpack left at a station. The backpack belonged to a male senior constable in his 20s from the security section of Hodogaya police station in Yokohama. He had worked in the security section of Kohoku police station until March, and the licences came from the traffic section there. TBS reported that he had left the backpack on a station platform after drinking, and that the licences belonged to residents of the Kohoku area. [ 2 , 3 ]

Mainichi reported that at Kohoku station traffic staff handed every licence collected at renewal to security staff. The security division reportedly pulled out the licences of activists and lone offenders it was investigating and added their photos to its database. The reported practice covered licences of ordinary drivers who were not surveillance targets. TBS said the agency believes the aim included collecting face photos of members of left-wing and right-wing groups and lone offenders. [ 2 , 3 ]

Veteran security officers told prefectural police the handling was already in place in the early Heisei era (1989-97). TBS quoted them as saying it was passed on through instruction from seniors and handovers from predecessors. Mainichi reported it was confirmed at five stations and may have continued elsewhere, with all 54 stations being checked. [ 2 , 3 ]

Mainichi said the personal information protection law generally bars use of information for other purposes, but allows internal use where there are reasonable grounds within the limits needed for official duties. Because traffic staff handed over all licences, the stations appear not to have judged organisationally whether such grounds existed, and the agency said earlier practice may have continued without scrutiny after the law took effect. The agency plans to delete the information obtained, except what was properly acquired under the Code of Criminal Procedure. TBS added that the agency will also examine the involvement of the Kanagawa police headquarters security department. [ 2 , 3 ]

Mainichi reported that the agency set up an investigation and guidance team in early September, and that inspection departments of prefectural police began checks on 9 October. TBS said the agency issued a notice on 9 October setting a nationwide rule to punch a hole in an old licence and return it to the renewing driver in principle, because handling had varied by prefecture. [ 2 , 3 ]