A free smartphone app developed by Tokyo police to scare off would-be molesters* by shouting “stop it” has been downloaded more than 237,000 times. Users of the Digi Police app can activate the alarm that blasts “stop it” at top volume when a fellow passenger has groped* them. A message will also be displayed on the screen which reads, “There’s a molester. Please help,” that victims can show to people around them. Molestation on packed trains is a huge problem in overcrowded cities. The app has an unusually high amount of users for a public service app and its user base is increasing by up to 10,000 people a month, police officials said. The service allows passengers to discreetly* report harassment* and safety concerns on public transport, which police say is under-reported because victims are often too scared to call out for help. Using the SOS message mode avoids this and allows them to notify other passengers about groping while remaining silent, according to police official Keiko Toyamine. There were nearly 900 groping and other harassment cases on Tokyo trains and subways reported in 2017, according to data from the Tokyo Police Department. “But it’s the tip of the iceberg,” Toyamine said, with victims often hesitant to come forward. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department launched the Digi Police app three years ago, initially aimed at elderly people to inform them of scams* or prowlers*. But the function to repel molesters was added a few months after the launch. Experts agree that the app could be a boon for silent victims.(SD-Agencies) |