Recommendations by Working Group on Youth Gangs

Mr Desmond Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether he can provide an update on the implementation of recommendations by the Working Group on Youth Gangs, in light of the recent gang-related attack outside Cathay Cineleisure Orchard.

We announced the recommendations of the Inter-Ministry Working Group on Youth Gangs in November 2011. Since then, the various agencies, such as MHA, MSF, MOE, Singapore Police Force and the Attorney-General's Chambers, have worked together to implement the recommendations to deter youths from joining gangs and to disrupt existing youth gangs.

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The Working Group recommended a comprehensive range of programmes. First, enhanced coordination and collaboration between agencies. An inter-agency forum comprising the Police, Central Narcotics Bureau, schools and MSF share information and address gaps in intervention. Through this platform, Police informs schools when students are found hanging out late or reported missing by their parents. This allows schools to monitor these students and provide counselling and other forms of intervention.

To support this framework, the Police established a Youth Offenders Unit in 2012. The unit oversees the programmes to prevent youth crime, monitors trends, and coordinates public education and outreach efforts to youths. It recently organised the fifth season of the Delta League in June 2013 with the National Crime Prevention Council. This programme keeps youths meaningfully occupied during the school holidays through wholesome physical activities, such as soccer. More than 1,000 youths have participated over the past four seasons.

Second, we improved upstream measures for youths who are at the early stages of gang association. Such youths have to attend a mandatory intervention programme in lieu of prosecution. This enhanced programme includes compulsory physical reporting to Police, close supervision at school or work, and restrictions on places that the youth can visit and people that he can associate with.

The Working Group also recognised that family support is crucial in helping a young person turn over a new leaf. Parental involvement is a key feature of diversionary programmes, such as the Guidance Programme, the enhanced Streetwise Programme and the rehabilitation programmes for young offenders in our Juvenile Homes and Reformative Training Centre. This strengthens family bonds and prepares the family to support and encourage the young person in his rehabilitation and reintegration.

The third area being strengthened is anti-gang legislation. More details on proposed legislative amendments will be announced when these are ready. The amendments will enhance Police's powers to deal with gang formation, recruitment and congregation. We will also work closely with billiard saloons, computer gaming centres and amusement centres, where youths regularly gather, to introduce security measures to prevent gang activities. In the meantime, illegal associations and specific offences, such as serious hurt, rioting, intimidation and harassment, will be firmly dealt with under existing

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legislation.

The youth crime and youth gang situation in Singapore remains under control. The number of youths arrested has fallen over the last five years, from 4,240 in 2008 to 3,320 in 2012. For the period January to May this year, 1,020 youths were arrested, a drop of 32% when compared to the same period last year. There were 1,493 youths arrested from January to May 2012. Nevertheless, as the recent incident at Cineleisure shows, we cannot be complacent and have to continually review and refine our strategies and measures to deal with youth crime and youth violence. The Police takes the Cineleisure case very seriously. They have arrested 14 persons, of whom six have been charged. Police also stepped up its presence and patrols at areas where large numbers of youth may congregate, especially during the school holidays.

In addition to Government measures, parents and the community also have key roles to play in helping youths stay crime-free. Notwithstanding our best efforts, there will be youths who still turn to crime and violence. The Government's position is clear. While we have measures in place to ensure that our young are given chances to rehabilitate and reintegrate if they go astray, this must not come at the expense of safe streets, safe public places and safe neighbourhoods. We have zero tolerance for violence and all gang activity. Age is not an excuse. If our young people engage in violence, the authorities will not hesitate to step in and bring them to justice.