Society

Crimes by U.S. Military Personnel Hit Record High in Okinawa

Nov 05 (News On Japan) - The number of U.S. military personnel arrested for criminal offenses in Okinawa has reached 77 so far this year, already surpassing the record total for all of 2024 as of the end of September.

According to the police, between January and the end of September, 77 cases involving U.S. military personnel being apprehended for violations of Japan’s Penal Code were reported in the prefecture. In 2024, the total number of arrests for the entire year was 73—the highest in the past 20 years—but the figure has already been exceeded this year.

The number of individuals arrested also rose to 59, nine more than during the same period in 2024. Among these cases, four were classified as serious crimes, including acts such as non-consensual sexual intercourse and robbery—all involving sexual violence against women.

Although the U.S. military implemented a new “Liberty” policy in October 2024, which bans drinking outside bases during late-night and early-morning hours, incidents involving service members have continued to occur, underscoring ongoing challenges in preventing off-base misconduct.

Source: 沖縄ニュースOTV

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