Pilot Programme to Video Record Statements from Suspects

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the status of the pilot programme for the police to video record statements from suspects; (b) what is the rate of submission of video recorded statements as evidence in trials; and (c) what are the plans to extend video recording of statements from suspects to all cases handled by the police and local law enforcement agencies.

The inter-agency workgroup on Video Recording of Interviews (VRI) has completed a round of consultations with the legal community, including the Law Society of Singapore and the Judiciary.

MHA had previously announced that we will start a pilot of VRI in the first quarter of 2016. After taking into account the feedback received, we have decided that it would be better to first put in place the necessary legislative amendments before starting the VRI pilot. This was announced during the opening of the Criminal Law Conference on 14 July 2016. The legal framework will set out the procedures, admissibility and disclosure regime.

We will announce details on the legislative amendments and the VRI pilot in due course.