Public safety & law — Topics

1 Mar 2024

Multi-Mode Passive Detection System for Illegal Shipments of Wildlife and Wildlife Products

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry for National Development for an update on testing a prototype Multi-Mode Passive Detection System to detect illegal wildlife shipments.
He also inquired whether the Ministry is exploring other technologies to detect such shipments, particularly through Singapore's ports.
The Speaker noted that no one from the Ministry was present and moved on to the next question.

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29 Feb 2024

Use of Social Media and Digital Platforms to Communicate Real-time Information to Public During High-density Events and Emergencies

The Ministry of Home Affairs uses digital platforms to share real-time information during events, as outlined in a previous written reply to Parliament on 28 February 2024.
Specific safety measures, such as crowd control protocols, are implemented to prevent incidents like stampedes and overcrowding during festive gatherings.
Emergency services are prepared to respond to incidents during high-density events, with established protocols to ensure rapid and effective coordination.

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29 Feb 2024

Committee of Supply – Head R (Ministry of Law)

The debate emphasized the need to maintain Singapore's competitive edge in legal services, with proposals to deepen arbitrator capacity, accede to international conventions like the Hague Judgments Convention, and modernize execution of electronic deeds to bolster its status as a global hub.
Several MPs highlighted challenges in state asset management, particularly underutilized SLA properties like black-and-white bungalows, calling for greater transparency, better optimization through technology and cost-benefit analyses, and initiatives to support arts tenants with subsidized rentals.
Accessibility of justice was a key theme, with calls to scale up e-services for probate and intestacy matters, enhance legal aid for vulnerable groups, and improve enforcement of judgments and community dispute resolutions to address rising neighbour disputes more effectively.

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29 Feb 2024

Committee of Supply – Head P (Ministry of Home Affairs)

The Ministry of Home Affairs faced intense scrutiny over severe manpower shortages, with officers grappling with heavy workloads from rising scams and complex crimes, which the Minister acknowledged is a critical challenge requiring trade-offs.
There was significant debate on the surge in youth drug abuse and cannabis use, with the government emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy, citing harmful effects and rejecting global trends toward legalization.
The Ministry outlined efforts to combat scams, including strengthening public education, working with online platforms, and using new laws, while also addressing social issues like racial harmony and foreign interference.

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29 Feb 2024

Effectiveness and Progress of Roll-out of Money Lock Feature in Protecting Consumers from Scams and Unauthorised Bank Transactions

More than 61,000 Money Lock accounts have been set up since its November launch, safeguarding over $5.4 billion in savings by February 2024.
No reports of phishing or malware scams have involved funds under Money Lock to date, with MAS and banks working to monitor its effectiveness and encourage adoption.
The feature is being expanded to other major retail banks by mid-year, and improvements are being made based on customer feedback, such as allowing funds to be locked within the same account.
The majority of scams involve individuals willingly transferring money due to social engineering, highlighting the need for vigilance beyond technical safeguards.

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28 Feb 2024

Investigations Involving Employers Receiving Kickbacks from Migrant Workers

From 2021 to 2023, MOM investigated about 210 cases annually for alleged kickback offences involving employers receiving payments from migrant workers.
After investigations, about 70 employers were taken to task each year, with approximately seven migrant workers affected per employer.
Each affected migrant worker paid between $2,000 and $7,000 in kickbacks to their employers.

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28 Feb 2024

Crowd Control Management During Festive Seasons and Ensuring Effective Coordination Between Entities

The Ministry deploys police and may forward-deploy SCDF resources on the ground to ensure law and order and swift response to incidents during festive events with large crowds.
Effective coordination among police, emergency services, and government agencies is managed through established protocols, with detailed responses on crowd surge measures referenced from a prior parliamentary sitting on 28 November 2022.
Technology such as surveillance cameras and crowd monitoring software is leveraged to enhance crowd control and public safety, as part of the broader measures outlined in previous official responses.

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27 Feb 2024

Awareness of Vehicles Removing Illegal Modifications Before Inspections and Reinstallation Thereafter

Leong Mun Wai asked if the LTA knows that owners of illegally modified vehicles remove modifications before inspections and reinstall them afterward, and what steps the LTA has taken to address this.
Chee Hong Tat responded that LTA Enforcement Officers capture photographic evidence of illegal modifications and compare them with photographs from Authorised Inspection Centres.
The LTA's approach ensures that vehicle owners who remove modifications before inspection will still be caught through evidence comparison.

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27 Feb 2024

Alleged Offences under Protection from Harassment Act and Protection Orders Granted

Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of complaints for alleged offences under the Protection from Harassment Act, protection orders granted, and prosecutions arising from those orders over the last three years.
The Ministry reported 69,795 Police reports for alleged offences under sections 3 to 7 of the Act between 2021 and 2023.
The Courts issued 498 Protection Orders during this period.
10 persons were prosecuted for contravening the conditions of their Protection Orders.

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27 Feb 2024

Road Rage Cases Reported

Yeo Wan Ling asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of reported road rage cases over the last three years and the percentage where drivers were victims or perpetrators.
K Shanmugam stated that 178 road rage reports were received by the Police between 2021 and 2023.
The Police do not track whether the perpetrators of road rage incidents are drivers or other road users.

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27 Feb 2024

Making Automated Clearance Lanes at Border Checkpoints More Accessible, User-friendly and Secure Against Unauthorised Entry

Automated clearance lanes process travellers up to 40% faster than manual counters, require less space and fewer officers, and are being expanded with over 160 new lanes installed in 2023 and 230 more planned this year to accommodate rising volumes.
Special Assistance Lanes (SALs) are wider and designed for travellers with disabilities, families with elderly or young children, and wheelchair users, with 58 installed across key checkpoints in 2023 and more to be added this year.
The new Automated Border Control System (ABCS) uses biometrics and data analytics to detect forged passports, high-risk travellers, and unauthorised entry, with on-site officers receiving alerts and conducting profiling.
ICA systems comply with stringent security and data protection requirements and undergo regular audits to mitigate cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
The ABCS will allow all foreign visitors, regardless of nationality or visit frequency, to use automated lanes, replacing existing lanes and manual counters progressively.

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27 Feb 2024

Preventing Online Messaging Platforms from Engaging in Illegal Activities such as Sale of Prohibited Drugs

The Singapore government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, is operationalizing the Online Criminal Harms Act to issue directions and codes of practice to online platforms, requiring them to disrupt illegal activities like drug sales.
The Central Narcotics Bureau has noted a 17% decrease in suspected drug offenders using Telegram for transactions, while reporting mechanisms like in-app reporting, police reports, and anonymous i-Witness reports are available for the public.
Authorities can demand compliance from platforms within 24 hours under the new law and may restrict access to non-compliant services to prevent criminal activities from reaching Singapore users.

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27 Feb 2024

Criteria in Evaluation of Requests for Road Safety Features around Schools and Residential Areas and Follow-up Reviews

The Land Transport Authority assesses requests for road safety features through technical evaluations of pedestrian volumes, vehicle speeds, visibility, and local demographics, prioritizing safety and implementing measures like traffic calming and crossings.
LTA monitors and re-evaluates requests when traffic conditions change or accidents occur, focusing on School Zones and Silver Zones to enhance safety around schools and residential areas with seniors.
The Ministry of Transport commits to more resources for road safety, including infrastructure improvements like signalized crossings and speed humps, and aims to expand initiatives such as the Friendly Street program by 2030.

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26 Feb 2024

Provision of Pedestrian Crossing or Overhead Bridge along Yuan Ching Road Where 12-year-old Girl Was Killed in Recent Accident

Hazel Poa asked if the Ministry for Transport would consider installing a pedestrian crossing or overhead bridge at Yuan Ching Road where a 12-year-old girl died in a recent accident.
Chee Hong Tat, representing the Ministry, stated that LTA will review if additional measures are needed after the Coroner's Inquiry and Traffic Police investigations conclude.
The response emphasizes that any decision on infrastructure upgrades will be contingent on the findings of ongoing official investigations.

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26 Feb 2024

Judges in State Courts Trained and Assigned to Handle Matters at Employment Claims Tribunal

Patrick Tay asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of State Courts judges trained and assigned to the Employment Claims Tribunal as of 31 December 2023.
Tan See Leng responded that as of that date, 23 judicial officers in the Community Courts and Tribunals Cluster were trained and assigned to hear employment disputes at the Employment Claims Tribunal.

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26 Feb 2024

Care and Protection Orders Applied for and Ordered by Youth Court

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for annual figures on Care and Protection Orders applied for and ordered by the Youth Court over the past five years.
Over the past five years, an annual average of about 175 Care and Protection Orders were applied for and about 165 were ordered by the Youth Court.

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26 Feb 2024

Proposal of Civil Society, Lawyers and Law Professors to Include Illegal Wildlife Trade Offences under Schedule of Organised Crime Act 2015

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for an update on the proposal to include illegal wildlife trade offences under the Schedule of the Organised Crime Act 2015.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is currently reviewing the proposal in collaboration with the Ministry of National Development.

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26 Feb 2024

Persons Investigated and Prosecuted under Section 6(1) of Children and Young Persons Act 1993

Louis Ng asked for the number of persons investigated and prosecuted under Section 6(1) of the CYPA for causing emotional harm to a child over the past five years.
The Minister stated that police do not track cases by the specific type of harm, as charges are chosen based on the overall circumstances of each ill-treatment case.
From 2021 to 2023, 89 persons were investigated for ill-treatment of a child under the CYPA, with 11 prosecuted.

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16 Feb 2024

Penalties and Measures against Sale of Illegal Health Products

Yip Hon Weng asked about increasing penalties, using technology for enforcement, the percentage of overseas sellers, challenges in acting against foreign sellers, and plans for international collaboration.
The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that current penalties are a fine up to $100,000 and/or up to three years imprisonment, which is higher than in 2007, and that HSA uses surveillance and e-commerce tools to detect illegal products.
In 2023, about 14% of illegal health product listings on major local platforms were from overseas sellers; HSA relies on local platforms to remove these and works with international partners, including INTERPOL operations that removed over 7,000 listings.

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16 Feb 2024

Effectiveness of Community Dispute Resolution Tribunal Orders in Resolving Neighbour Disputes

Mr Louis Ng asked if the Ministry for Law monitors the effectiveness of Community Dispute Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) orders and how it determines this, to which Minister Edwin Tong responded that CDRT was established in 2015 to resolve community disputes with an adjudicatory process, encouraging amicable settlement through mediation first.
The Ministry tracks CDRT enforcement orders as an indicator of effectiveness, noting from January 2021 to December 2023 that 126 first-instance orders were issued, with only 14 enforcement orders, suggesting a low non-compliance rate.
However, the Ministry acknowledges this is just one indicator and that residents may not pursue enforcement, so an inter-agency committee is reviewing the Community Dispute Management Framework to enhance CDRT processes and order effectiveness, with details to be shared later.

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