Debated in Parliament on 11 Nov 2013.
Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the total number of residents who have been caught for high-rise littering offences so far since mobile cameras have been brought in to beef up enforcement; (b) what is the effectiveness and sustainability of such measures in tackling this anti-social behaviour; (c) whether such cameras can be placed without advance notice to residents; and (d) whether there are alternative sustainable measures to resolve such anti-social behaviour which threatens public safety and health.
Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether there are enough surveillance and enforcement resources on the ground to nab recalcitrant litterbugs at the housing estates; and (b) whether there are effective measures to deal with the high-rise litterers.
Mr David Ong asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) how effective has the installation of surveillance CCTVs been to nab recalcitrant high-rise litterbugs at the housing estates; (b) how many deployments of such CCTVs have been made over the last 12 months; and (c) what is the number of high-rise litterbugs caught so far.
Since May 2013, NEA has increased enforcement hours by about 50%, from 24,000 man-hours to 35,000 man-hours per month. NEA has started a pilot scheme for Community Volunteers to apply peer pressure on persons who litter. They are authorised to ascertain the identity of these persons for further investigation by NEA. One hundred and four community volunteers have been trained and given authority under this programme and we welcome more Singaporeans to be part of this effort.
Since September 2012, NEA has deployed surveillance cameras in nearly 500 locations in response to resident feedback. So far, NEA has successfully prosecuted 56 high-rise litter-bugs with the help of these surveillance cameras, and the Courts have imposed fines on them ranging from $400 to $2,100.
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With effect from August 2013, NEA no longer informs the residents when the surveillance cameras will be installed at their blocks, or when they will be removed. This means recalcitrant litter-bugs will no longer receive advance warning, and this should bring about a greater deterrence effect.
Even as we step up our efforts to address the litter situation, we must continue to cultivate social graciousness, good habits, and a sense of collective responsibility for the cleanliness and safety of our neighbourhoods.
PAPERCUTS