NPA suspects police in Kanagawa used old drivers’ licenses illegally

The Kanagawa police are suspected of using information obtained from old driver's licenses illegally, to make investigation files. | Johan Brooks

Jiji

Oct 22, 2026

The Kanagawa Prefectural Police department is believed to have inappropriately gathered information from expired driver’s licenses that were collected from citizens at the time of renewal for over 30 years, according to the National Police Agency.

Improper use of information from driver’s licenses may constitute a violation of personal information protection law. The NPA has instructed the prefectural police department to confirm the facts in full detail, and has set up a team to start nationwide investigations.

“It’s only natural to comply with laws and regulations in police activities. We take the acts of the Kanagawa Prefectural Police seriously because they should not have happened,” NPA Commissioner-General Yoshinobu Kusunoki said as he apologized at a regular news conference held Thursday.

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