No Smoking In Japanese Interrogation Rooms After Mid-February

Japanese investigators are taking smoking out of the interrogation room. Mid-February Tokyo Metropolitan Police will begin to test a ban amid concerns of second hand smoke.

There are also worries that suspects may view getting a smoke from police officers is seen as a favor. The study will last for three months. some officials are concerned that suspects requesting to take a smoke break will lessen the tension that is used during interrogation. After the three month test ban it is expected that the police will make it a permanent one. Osaka has already implemented the no smoking rule. Japan's been tightening the rules for interrogations since last year. Investigators are no longer allowed to touch suspects or grill them for long hours. That change came out of several innocent people becoming confessions from the heavy interrogation methods.