Topic: Other
Category: Mobile Phones
Technorati: Linking Blogs

A new service has been launched for email users in Shinjuku in Tokyo. This service hopes to use the high concentration of cell phone users which support email in the Shinjuku area, to provide a medium for police to broadcast updates on child related criminal activity.

A new service has been launched for email users in Shinjuku in Tokyo. This service hopes to use the high concentration of cell phone users which support email in the Shinjuku area, to provide a medium for police to broadcast updates on child related criminal activity.

Users who wish to be notified of child related crimes must submit an email address (any email address will do, but cell phones are the target) and when there is an incident they will receive an update from the police.

Crime in Japan is not high when compared to Western standards, but last year 52 cases of attempted kidnapping, or other child related crimes were reported in Shinjuku. These numbers are expected to rise in the near future. In the past, a volunteer group to work for children's safety in the neighborhood was started, and from there, this information distribution via email system was started.

Previously, there was an attempt to provide a similar service via fax or phone, but these methods are not as fast, or as consistent as cell phone email. Currently there are about 120 people who have volunteered their email addresses to this service. Up until now, there have been about six different incidents reported. One incident involved a girl being fondled in a library by a 30 year old man, and another announcement provided news of the capture of that same man.

Residents enjoy this service because it allows them to keep an eye on any important incidents in the neighborhood, even when they are away from the TV or radio at home. After this new plan has been tried and tested, if it succeeds it may be expanded to include a larger area of operation.

Inspired by: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/net/news/20040106ij42.htm