Public safety & law — Topics

15 Aug 2016

Better Detection and Management of Child Abuse Cases

The Ministry of Social and Family Development has strengthened detection by providing training and better screening tools to professionals like teachers, social workers, and healthcare workers to identify early signs of abuse and connect families with help or escalate cases.
Intervention strategies balance family preservation and child safety, using safety and case plans, referring caregivers with mental health or substance issues for treatment, and removing children to kinship or foster care only in serious cases.
An Inter-Ministry Workgroup and the National Family Violence Networking System enable collaboration among ministries, police, prisons, courts, hospitals, and Family Service Centres to monitor and manage child abuse cases, including high-risk families and siblings of abused children.
Public education and outreach efforts, such as promoting the ComCare Call helpline, are used to encourage reporting of suspected child abuse and prevent cases from escalating.

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15 Aug 2016

Makeshift Brothels in Heartland Areas like Punggol and Woodlands

Police conduct regular anti-vice operations and have made arrests in heartland parks such as Woodlands Town Garden and Punggol Waterway Park, while also working with other agencies to improve lighting, install CCTV, and enhance patrols to deter makeshift brothels.
Investigations from 2014 to 2015 found no evidence of human trafficking among sex workers arrested at these locations, as they were recruited in their home countries and came to Singapore voluntarily.
A dedicated police team investigates sex trafficking cases, and frontline officers from various agencies are trained to identify and refer suspected victims to shelters and assistance.

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15 Aug 2016

Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill

The Workers’ Party opposed the Bill, arguing it unnecessarily empowers the government to suppress public criticism of ongoing court cases and could undermine judicial independence, while the government maintained the Bill merely codifies existing contempt of court laws with minor adjustments.
Key points of contention included the “public interest” exception for government statements, the definition of publication, and penalties, with opponents fearing these could chill free speech and grant disproportionate authority to the Attorney General and police.
The Minister for Law repeatedly asserted the Bill does not change substantive law, emphasizing that courts remain the ultimate arbiter, and dismissed allegations that it restricts citizens’ rights or introduces new police powers.
The debate highlighted concerns over potential bias in court proceedings, with references to past cases and clarifications on how the government’s “public interest” justification would be subject to judicial review.
The Bill was passed with a 72–9 vote, with the government asserting broad public support and dismissing opposition claims as based on misunderstandings of the legislation’s actual scope.

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15 Aug 2016

Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill

The Bill codifies Singapore's common law on contempt of court, aiming to provide clarity and certainty by setting out in statute the conduct that constitutes contempt, such as disobeying court orders, interfering with proceedings, sub judice contempt, and scandalising the court.
Supporters argue the Bill is necessary to protect the integrity of the judiciary, ensure fair trials, and deter disobedience of court orders, especially in family cases, while maintaining public trust in the legal system.
Opponents raise concerns that the Bill lowers the threshold for scandalising the court from "real risk" to "risk," grants excessive powers to the executive and Attorney-General, and may chill public discourse on matters of public interest.

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15 Aug 2016

Overpayment of Allowances to Volunteer Special Constabulary Officers

The Singapore Police Force overpaid $2.63 million in allowances to Volunteer Special Constabulary officers from 2008 to 2015 due to a procedural error where the Permanent Secretary approved the rate increase without the required Ministerial approval under the Police Force Act, though the amount was justified as reflecting the policy intent to fairly compensate volunteers for out-of-pocket expenses.
The Minister for Home Affairs retrospectively authorized the payments and amended regulations to regularize the overpayments after consulting the Attorney-General’s Chambers, emphasizing that no substantive wrongdoing occurred and that the officers involved were advised to be more careful in future.
The Minister defended the allowances as reasonable and necessary to support the volunteers’ critical contributions to public safety, initiated a review of the current rate, and rejected concerns about encouraging lax civil service processes by focusing on correcting the administrative error rather than penalizing the volunteers.

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15 Aug 2016

Singapore's Deployment to Support Multinational Coalition against ISIS

Singapore has been part of the multinational coalition against ISIS since December 2014, providing a liaison officer, intelligence planner, imagery analysis team, and KC-135R tanker aircraft, with plans to deploy a medical support team to Iraq in 2017.
The Minister emphasized that terrorism is a long-term threat, citing recent regional incidents and the detention of Singaporeans, and stated that contributions are based on making a real difference to both coalition efforts and Singapore’s security.
In response to a question on potential combat roles, the Minister said future involvement would depend on whether Singapore has a direct security interest and can contribute meaningfully, drawing on past successful support roles in Afghanistan.

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15 Aug 2016

Updates on Safety and Security Preparations

The Ministry of Home Affairs detailed enhanced security measures, including expanded CCTV coverage through PolCam 1.0 and 2.0, increased vigilance via industry-specific workshops, and strengthened emergency response teams to address evolving global and regional terrorism threats.
Officials emphasized the critical role of community resilience through the upcoming SG Secure movement, which includes public advisories, e-learning packages, and inter-faith initiatives like the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle to maintain social cohesion after any incident.
The government is conducting regular public and institutional emergency exercises, collaborating with international partners like Malaysia and Indonesia to share intelligence, and preparing for multi-site or lone-wolf attacks using everyday items as weapons.

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15 Aug 2016

Petition

The Nominated Member Kok Heng Leun presented a petition against the Contempt of Court Bill, arguing its provisions are vague, could disproportionately restrict legitimate public discussion, and impose heavier penalties than current law.
The petition, submitted on behalf of six named individuals and nine total signatories, calls for the Bill's passage to be delayed pending broader public consultation and clarification of its implications.
The petitioners urge Parliament to refer the Bill to a Select Committee for further deliberation to ensure it does not unintentionally restrict free expression on matters of public interest.

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11 Jul 2016

Measures to Deter Pet Abandonment

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) educates the public on responsible pet ownership and has restricted pet sales to individuals under 16, requiring retailers to assess customer suitability.
Dog licensing fees for unsterilised dogs were increased to encourage sterilisation and reduce unwanted breeding that could lead to abandonment.
Amendments to the Animals and Birds Act in 2014 made abandonment an offence without needing to prove the animal suffered, with penalties including fines up to $10,000 and/or jail up to a year for first-time offenders.

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11 Jul 2016

Young Persons Processed for Criminal Offences through State Courts

Between 2013 and 2015, 2,254 young persons aged 16 to 18 were processed for criminal offences in the State Courts.
The most common offences charged were theft and cheating under the Penal Code, as well as offences under the Moneylenders Act, Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, and Road Traffic Act.
Of the 2,046 convicted, about half received probation (sometimes with other sentences like a fine), around 30% were fined (sometimes with a driving licence disqualification), and about 15% were given Reformative Training (sometimes with additional penalties like a fine).

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11 Jul 2016

Victim Compensation Orders Granted under Section 359 of Criminal Procedure Code

Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Law about the number of victim compensation orders granted under Section 359 of the Criminal Procedure Code in 2014 and 2015, whether any orders were made against the prosecution for frivolous prosecutions, and the range of compensation amounts and types of offences involved.
The Minister responded that the Courts must consider compensation orders upon conviction, with data showing 84% of orders in 2014-2015 related to hurt, mischief, theft, cheating, and criminal breach of trust.
In 75% of cases, compensation was under $2,000, while the rest ranged up to $10,000, with one exceptional order of $57,000 for criminal breach of trust.
The State Courts track total compensation orders under Section 359 but do not have a breakdown by sub-sections.

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11 Jul 2016

Cases Reported on Singapore Academy of Law Website

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked how the Singapore Academy of Law selects cases for its website, how long they remain, removal requirements, and if overseas Court of Appeal cases are included.
The Minister for Law stated that all Supreme Court of Singapore judgments are published without selection on both the Singapore Law Watch and Singapore Law websites.
On the Singapore Law Watch website, judgments stay for three months, while on the Singapore Law website they are published permanently.
Judgments are only redacted or withheld if required by law or by a court order.
The websites only publish judgments from the Supreme Court of Singapore and do not include cases from other jurisdictions.

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11 Jul 2016

Offenders Taken to Task for Consumption of Alcohol in Public Places during Restricted Hours

Since the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act took effect in April 2015, over 1,800 individuals were found consuming alcohol in public places during restricted hours as of May 2016.
Within the Little India Liquor Control Zone, about 230 people were caught drinking during restricted hours, mostly first-time offenders who received advisories.
There were 48 repeat offenders island-wide, including three in Little India, who were offered composition fines, while subsequent repeat offences may lead to investigations and prosecution with stricter penalties.

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11 Jul 2016

Deployment of Auxiliary Police Officers and CCTVs at Liquor Control Zone in Little India

Melvin Yong asked about the number of Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) and CCTVs deployed at the Liquor Control Zone in Little India, and whether APOs conduct vertical foot patrols of staircase landings in HDB blocks.
The Minister responded that more than 90 APOs and Security Officers are deployed during peak periods, in addition to Police officers on patrol.
There are currently 34 Police Camera Zone CCTVs in the Liquor Control Zone, with plans to install 50 more by the end of the year.
APOs and Security Officers patrol common areas and specific concern areas, including higher floors and staircase landings of HDB blocks based on feedback.

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11 Jul 2016

Involvement of Phone Scam Suspects Arrested Overseas in Phone Scams in Singapore

Gan Thiam Poh asked whether suspects arrested overseas for phone scams have also targeted Singaporeans, how international agencies collaborate to prosecute them, and if suspects can be tried in Singapore for crimes against Singaporean victims.
K Shanmugam explained that scams have evolved with technology, often committed by overseas syndicates, and cited a 2015 joint operation with China that led to arrests for a credit-for-sex scam targeting Singaporeans.
The Minister emphasized that Singapore works with foreign law enforcement when possible but noted challenges due to the transnational nature of these crimes, and highlighted prevention through public education as the best defense.

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11 Jul 2016

Cybersecurity Measures in Place at Key Installations and Critical Infrastructures

The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) protects critical infrastructure by working with regulators across 11 sectors, ensuring entities have adequate plans to deal with cyber threats.
CSA conducts cybersecurity exercises, such as Cyber Star, to validate the incident response capabilities of critical sectors like Banking & Finance, Energy, Government, and Infocomm.
A new National Cybersecurity Strategy is being developed, and a Cybersecurity Act will be introduced in 2017 to enhance protection, information sharing, and incident response for critical infrastructure.

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11 Jul 2016

Making Traffic Light Crossings at Junctions Safer for Pedestrians

Dr Chia Shi-Lu inquired about pedestrian safety at T- and X-junctions where vehicles turn right on green lights, seeking injury and fatality data and details on green arrow durations and vehicle capacity.
Khaw Boon Wan reported 14 pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and 319 injuries from 2011 to 2015 at such junctions, with over 1,450 signalized junctions allowing right turns during pedestrian crossings.
The government is enhancing safety by implementing pedestrian head-start timings, additional road markings, and signs to alert right-turning vehicles.
Green arrows at these junctions typically last 5 to 12 seconds, permitting about three to six vehicles per lane to turn right.

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11 Jul 2016

Police Guidelines for Handling Complaints of Noise and Neighbour Disputes in Condominiums

Miss Cheryl Chan inquired about the police guidelines for handling noise and neighbour disputes in condominiums.
The Minister explained that such issues are often rooted in deeper conflicts and are best resolved through community-based approaches, including promoting neighbourliness, mediation, and legal options like the Community Dispute Resolution Tribunals.
Police intervention is limited to cases involving law-and-order concerns, such as fights or large gatherings posing safety risks, where they would deploy resources to maintain order.

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11 Jul 2016

Enforcement Actions against Cluttering of Common Space at HDB Flats and Estates

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef inquired about national-level plans to address cluttering in common spaces of HDB flats and estates.
Lawrence Wong explained that Town Councils enforce by-laws on common areas, guided by fire safety guidelines, and that HDB and Town Councils conduct public education on the risks of clutter.
Residents are encouraged to keep common areas clean and clutter-free to ensure a safe living environment for all.

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11 Jul 2016

Traffic Accidents Involving Foreign-registered Vehicles

About 1,100 accidents per year over the last three years involved foreign-registered vehicles.
Motorists of foreign-registered vehicles are held legally liable for damages if found responsible, just like Singapore-registered vehicles.
All vehicles using Singapore roads must be insured against third-party bodily injury and death under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The Motor Insurers' Bureau of Singapore has agreements with Malaysian insurers to facilitate claims for deaths or injuries caused by Malaysian-registered vehicles.
Third-party claimants in Singapore can file their claims with Malaysian insurers through the MIBS.

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