Resolution of Loan Shark Harassment Cases

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the success rate of resolving loan shark harassment cases in the last two years; (b) to date, how many offenders have been put behind bars for loan shark harassment crimes; (c) what other measures are the Police taking to address crimes relating to loan shark harassment; and (d) whether there are plans to enhance the laws to effectively deter loan shark harassment.

For the six-month period January to June 2013, there were 4,608 reported cases of unlicensed moneylending and related harassment. This was a drop of 9.5% compared to the 5,091 cases reported in the same period in 2012. The number of reported cases has been on a decline since 2010.

In the last two years (2011 and 2012), Police arrested 3,896 persons for unlicensed moneylending and harassment offences. This was about 60% higher than the 2,473 persons arrested in the preceding two years (2009 and 2010).

Police will continue to deal with loan shark harassment through its holistic strategy comprising enforcement, preventive education and community engagement.

To tackle the multi-layered nature and changing operational modes of the syndicates, we have legislated stiffer penalties for loan sharks as well as those

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who assist them in such activities.

We are progressively deploying Police Cameras at HDB blocks, under the new Community Policing System (COPS), to address the community's safety and security concerns, including loan shark harassment. By end of the year, Police Cameras will be installed in 1,000 HDB blocks across the various Town Councils.

Police and the National Crime Prevention Council also jointly launched the inaugural Anti-Unlicensed Moneylending public education and awareness campaign in November last year. The campaign is aimed at raising public awareness about the harmful effects that unlicensed moneylending has on borrowers and their families as well as to mobilise the community to enhance their vigilance against such activities.