Public safety & law — Topics

7 Feb 2023

Reviewing Police's Operating Procedures to Minimise Occurrences of Wrongful Arrest

The Minister noted that the High Court's ruling in the Mah Kiat Seng case raises concerns about police procedures under the Mental Health Act, with the government considering an appeal and potential legal changes to protect officers' discretion.
The Minister emphasized that Singapore maintains high public trust in the police due to existing checks like body-worn cameras, independent reviews, and disciplinary actions, while cautioning against critiques that could lead to defensive policing.
In response to queries, the Minister clarified that patrol officers use body-worn cameras and that police officers charged with criminal offenses face the same legal consequences as civilians, regardless of context.
The Minister highlighted that police work with IMH in mental disorder cases, but interventions are limited to imminent danger, and affected individuals can seek court protection orders if violence is not immediate.

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6 Feb 2023

Safety Procedures for Companies in Higher-Risk Sectors such as Construction

Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Manpower for an update on safety procedures in higher-risk sectors like construction.
Tan See Leng replied that the matter was addressed in responses to Questions 40 and 41 on February 6, 2023.
He directed the query to the official report on workplace fatalities involving hoisting operations and the extension of the heightened safety period.

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6 Feb 2023

Ensuring Employers Maintain Good Safety Protocols to Prevent Worksite Accidents

Christopher de Souza inquired about additional measures to ensure employers maintain good safety protocols to prevent worksite accidents.
Minister Tan See Leng referenced prior replies to Questions 40 and 41 from 6 February 2023 for the answer.
The referenced reply addressed workplace fatalities involving hoisting operations and the extension of the heightened safety period.

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6 Feb 2023

Causes of Workplace Fatalities in 2022

Christopher de Souza asked for a breakdown of the causes behind the high number of workplace fatalities in 2022.
Tan See Leng referred to his earlier reply on the same issue from February 2023, directing attention to an official report on workplace fatalities involving hoisting operations and the extension of a heightened safety period.

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6 Feb 2023

Workplace Accident Protocols to Ensure Victims Receive Immediate Care and Family Members are Updated

Christopher de Souza asked how the Ministry of Manpower ensures employers have proper protocols for workplace accidents to provide immediate care and update family members.
Tan See Leng stated that the Workplace Safety and Health Act requires employers to develop and implement emergency response plans, with MOM checking these during inspections and penalizing non-compliance.
For major accidents where the worker cannot contact next-of-kin, investigating authorities remind employers to update family members.

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6 Feb 2023

Measures to Curb Rise in Vaping

The Ministry of Health is using a multi-pronged approach that includes monitoring illicit sales on social media, conducting enforcement operations, and collaborating with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Carousell to remove illegal postings.
Authorities such as the Health Sciences Authority and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority work together to detect and intercept illegal imports of e-vaporisers at checkpoints.
Public education efforts are being strengthened, with schools taking disciplinary action for students caught vaping and the Health Promotion Board launching a digital campaign in early 2023 to raise awareness about the health risks of vaping.

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6 Feb 2023

Update on Community Guardian App Given Launch of National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline

The Community Guardian app, piloted in June 2020 for reporting domestic violence, was discontinued in December 2022 due to low usage.
MSF has launched an online text-based channel via its website and go.gov.sg/navh as an additional reporting mode for the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline.
The new text channel aims to make it easier for persons to report violence and seek help early.
The Community Guardian app will not be integrated with the helpline or other resources, as it has been discontinued.

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6 Feb 2023

Reasons for Continued Increase in Armed Robbery Cases Onboard Commercial Vessels in Singapore Strait

The Minister confirmed a rise to 55 reported sea robbery incidents in the Singapore Strait in 2022, up from 49 in 2021, with most occurring outside Singapore's waters and involving petty theft of items like engine spares and ship stores.
He explained that since the Strait involves the territorial waters of Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore collaborates with both countries through coordinated patrols and information-sharing initiatives to combat such incidents.
He noted Singapore’s role in international cooperation, including the ReCAAP agreement and the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Information Fusion Centre, which shares real-time maritime security information with neighbouring countries’ authorities.

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6 Feb 2023

Preparedness of Congregants and Staff of Religious Institutions in Scenarios Involving Hazardous Substances

The Police engage religious organisations through community efforts like Safety and Security Watch Groups, offering crime risk assessments, security advice, and technology recommendations such as CCTV, alongside training on topics including emergency preparedness.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth supports religious institutions with crisis response measures under SGSecure, providing tailored security booklets and self-assessment checklists to address threats like hazardous substances.
Government agencies conduct joint ground deployment exercises with religious stakeholders to test and validate contingency plans, ensuring readiness for emergencies involving hazardous materials.

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6 Feb 2023

Lessons from Fire Rescue Access Delay on 8 December 2022 due to Blockage by Funeral Wake Tentage at Henderson Road

Dennis Tan asked the Minister for Home Affairs if SCDF will share details and lessons from the Henderson Road fire access delay caused by a funeral tentage with all funeral companies and Town Councils to prevent recurrence.
The Minister responded that SCDF holds biannual dialogues with Town Councils, shares fire safety advisories, and at the January 2023 dialogue shared non-compliances from the Henderson Road fire.
The Town Council took action against the funeral company for the avoidable breach, and SCDF will continue working with Town Councils to ensure fire safety compliance among contractors and funeral companies.

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6 Feb 2023

Outcome of White-collar Crime Cases Involving $4.49 billion Investigated by Police from 2017 to 2021

Murali Pillai asked about the financial outcome of 18,700 white-collar crime cases investigated from 2017 to 2021, specifically the total value of assets recovered and the amount returned to victims.
The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, stated that the Police do not track the cumulative dollar value of assets recovered.
The Minister also confirmed that the Police do not track the amount of recovered assets that have been returned to victims.

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6 Feb 2023

Data on Digital Files Reviewed for Complex and High Dollar Value White-collar Crime Cases

Mr Murali Pillai asked for the average number of digital files reviewed and technology investments by the Commercial Affairs Department for complex white-collar crime cases over the past five years.
The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, responded that the Police do not track the number of digital files reviewed for investigations.
The Police use technological tools like the Digital Forensic Kiosk, implemented in 2020, to help officers retrieve and analyze information from digital devices more efficiently.

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6 Feb 2023

Data on Sexual Assault Cases Involving Minors

Between January 2018 and November 2022, there were 11,868 reports of sexual assault, which includes rape, sexual assault by penetration, outrage of modesty, and sexual offences involving children and vulnerable victims.
Police collaborate with social service agencies to provide counselling and interventions, and can activate volunteers under the Victim Care Cadre Programme for emotional support, while also referring victims to Care Corner Project StART for additional support.
A Sexual Crime and Family Violence Command will be established by 2023 to enhance support for victims, and the One-Stop Abuse Forensic Examination Centre will add a dedicated victim care area to improve privacy and convenience during investigations.

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6 Feb 2023

Keppel Offshore & Marine Corruption Probe and Singapore Companies Investigated for Corruption in Foreign Jurisdictions

Members of Parliament asked about the number of Singapore companies investigated and found guilty under foreign anti-corruption laws over the last five years, the rationale behind issuing stern warnings instead of prosecuting former Keppel Offshore & Marine staff involved in bribe payments, and whether examples of similar cases exist for comparison.
The Prime Minister’s representative indicated that all queries had been addressed in a prior parliamentary reply dated 6 February 2023, referencing an official report on the findings from the Keppel Offshore & Marine corruption probe.
The debate highlighted concerns over transparency in cross-border corruption enforcement and the consistency of punitive measures for Singapore companies and individuals implicated in overseas corruption cases.

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6 Feb 2023

Encouraging Use of Surveillance Technologies by Religious Organisations

Joan Pereira inquired about plans for the government to collaborate with religious organisations to increase the use of surveillance technologies for monitoring their premises.
The Minister for Home Affairs stated that the police engage with religious organisations on crime prevention and security, including through Safety and Security Watch Groups.
The police provide advice on security measures, which can include technologies like CCTV cameras to enhance security and assist police investigations.
The Ministries of Home Affairs and Culture, Community and Youth will continue to work with stakeholders on crime prevention and security awareness.

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6 Feb 2023

Prevalence of Traffic Accidents Occurring on Expressways

Minister K Shanmugam reported that the number of traffic accidents on expressways involving injuries or deaths rose from 1,752 in 2018 to 1,889 in 2019, fell to 1,039 in 2020 and 1,155 in 2021 due to the pandemic, and increased to 1,687 in 2022 as activities resumed.
The Traffic Police do not track non-injury or non-fatal accidents and attribute the majority of expressway accidents to driver and rider behavior, focusing on education and engagement to promote compliance with traffic rules and good practices.
To minimize the impact of accidents, the Traffic Police collaborate with the Land Transport Authority to divert and manage traffic flow, and motorists are advised to follow officer instructions and use alternative roads.

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6 Feb 2023

Prevalence and Detection of Illegal Vehicle Modifications

From 2018 to 2022, illegal vehicle modification offences averaged around 2,000 for motorcycles, 3,600 for passenger cars, and 2,200 for commercial vehicles, all detected through LTA’s regular enforcement patrols.
Offences declined in 2020 due to lower traffic during COVID-19, and all cases were identified through enforcement patrols, not routine inspections or other methods.
Vehicles must pass regular inspections to renew road tax, with non-compliant vehicles barred from use, and illegal exhaust modification fines have been increased from $500 to $1,000 for first-time offenders.
More severe cases can be taken to court, even for first-time offenders, as part of stricter penalties for high-risk modifications.

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6 Feb 2023

Training for Officers Who Enforce Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act and Wildlife Act

Louis Ng asked the Minister for National Development about the training provided to officers enforcing the Endangered Species Act and Wildlife Act, and whether they are trained in species identification.
Desmond Lee stated that NParks provides regular training covering CITES provisions, Singapore’s legislative framework, investigative methods, and species identification under these Acts.
NParks also trains officers in using science and technology, such as DNA barcoding by researchers at the Centre for Wildlife Forensics, to support enforcement.
Officers attend international conferences and workshops, like those by INTERPOL, to stay updated on developments and share best practices in combating wildlife crime.
These efforts collectively strengthen Singapore’s enforcement against wildlife-related offences under the Endangered Species Act and Wildlife Act.

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6 Feb 2023

Review of Sentencing Framework for Scams-related Crimes

The Ministry of Home Affairs regularly reviews penalties for scam-related crimes but deems current penalties adequate, citing a 2022 case where a scammer received five years' imprisonment for extensive e-commerce fraud.
The primary challenge in prosecuting scammers is their overseas location and use of technology to evade detection, so the focus is on upstream prevention measures rather than heavier penalties.
Upstream initiatives include blocking overseas spoofed numbers and mandating SMS Sender ID registration to combat scams at the source.
Public education is emphasized through the "I can ACT against scams" campaign, promoting actions like adding security features, checking for scam signs, and reporting incidents to authorities.
Authorities stress that the best defense is a discerning public, with efforts shifting from awareness to active community participation in scam prevention.

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6 Feb 2023

Measures to Curb Borrowing by Migrant Domestic Workers and Teach Them Prudent Financial Management

The number of migrant domestic workers borrowing from licensed moneylenders remains low at about 150 per year, while borrowing from unlicensed moneylenders has increased over the past three years.
The Ministry of Law has implemented measures to curb borrowing from licensed moneylenders, including loan restrictions, aggregate caps, self-exclusion frameworks, and advertising bans targeting vulnerable groups.
The Singapore Police Force takes a tough stance against unlicensed moneylending through enforcement operations and partnerships with banks, and may revoke work passes and bar MDWs from further employment in Singapore if found borrowing from unlicensed lenders.
The Ministry of Manpower collaborates with NGOs and employment agencies to provide financial education to MDWs through mandatory orientation programmes, guidebooks, and courses, while also educating employers on advising MDWs to avoid borrowing.
Government agencies continue to monitor the situation and will work with stakeholders to step up efforts as necessary to address borrowing and promote prudent financial management among MDWs.

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