Public safety & law — Topics

9 May 2022

Individuals Incarcerated for Sexual Assault Offences

Pritam Singh asked for statistics on individuals incarcerated for sexual assault with sentences over 10 years, including repeat offenders and those incarcerated multiple times.
Minister K Shanmugam reported that as of 31 March 2022, 195 inmates were serving sentences of 10 years or more for sexual assault offences.
Of these 195 inmates, 95 had prior imprisonments, with 22 having at least one prior conviction for sexual assault.
The Ministry does not track the total number of people in the population who have been incarcerated for sexual assault.
The response did not break down the data by those currently in prison versus those released, nor for individuals incarcerated three or more times.

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9 May 2022

Child Abuse Cases Investigated by Child Protective Service and Upstream Measures Required

In 2021, the Child Protective Service investigated 400 to 650 child abuse cases each quarter, with 420 cases in the first quarter of 2022.
The government strengthens detection and reporting through training for frontline professionals, public awareness campaigns, and a 24-hour helpline with plans for a web and mobile reporting channel.
Upstream prevention focuses on early intervention with Family Service Centres, Parenting Support Providers, and programmes to promote respectful family relationships.
The government urges the public to report suspected child abuse to the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline.
Countering child abuse is emphasized as a shared responsibility across society.

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9 May 2022

Rules for Large Cycling Groups on Roads

Dennis Tan asked whether large cycling groups are allowed to ride in multiple smaller groups of five cyclists in single file or ten cyclists two abreast, following at a distance on the same route.
The Minister confirmed that cycling groups on roads must limit their size to a maximum of five cyclists in single file or ten cyclists two abreast on appropriate roads.
Larger groups must split into such smaller formations, with a recommended minimum safe distance of about two lamp posts or 30 metres between groups.
Cyclists who violate these group size rules face penalties of up to a $1,000 fine and a three-month jail term.

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9 May 2022

Certification by Original Equipment Manufacturers That It Is Safe to Transport People at Rear of Lorries

Louis Ng asked whether OEMs have certified the safety of transporting people at the rear of lorries, the conditions for such certification, and if not, whether the Ministry will address this.
LTA and agencies engaged lorry suppliers, noting that while ideal, lorries are necessary for businesses like construction, and measures like canopies and speed devices have been introduced to enhance safety.
The government emphasizes shared responsibility in road safety, urging employers to consider alternatives like buses and exploring further measures to protect workers' livelihoods and safety.

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9 May 2022

Measures to Prevent E-cigarettes from Flowing into Singapore with Reopening of Land Border with Malaysia

The Ministry of Health employs a multi-pronged approach, including checkpoint inspections with advanced screening technologies and pre-arrival risk assessments to detect and confiscate e-cigarettes, with nearly 300 persons caught importing vaporizers at Causeway checkpoints from January to mid-April 2022.
Public education efforts are underway, such as the Health Promotion Board’s planned vape-free campaign targeting youths and young adults via digital platforms to highlight the dangers and illegality of vaping, alongside smoking cessation programs like the “I Quit” Programme offering support for up to six months.
Success rates for smoking cessation programs in Singapore range from 10% to 20% annually, comparable to international standards, and individuals seeking help to quit vaping will not face penalties when accessing professional support or participating in cessation programs.

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9 May 2022

Daily Withdrawal Limits for CPF Funds and Safeguards in Place Against Scams Involving Extraordinarily Large Sums

The CPF Board does not impose daily withdrawal limits or specific thresholds for large sums, focusing instead on verifying that withdrawals are made to the member’s own bank account.
Key safeguards include authenticating the member’s identity via Singpass or face-to-face verification, sending email or SMS notifications for withdrawals, and confirming bank account ownership before payment.
These measures align with industry practices, and the CPF Board will continue to review and update safeguards to protect against scams, while emphasizing the importance of member vigilance.

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9 May 2022

Measures Taken by Council for Estate Agencies to Educate Public on Scammers Impersonating Real Estate Agents

The Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) advised the public to verify agents via the CEA Public Register and to avoid paying for viewings, while also encouraging victims to file police reports.
CEA partnered with government agencies, major property firms, and platforms like CASE, 99.co, and PropertyGuru to disseminate educational content through social media and communication channels.
Collaborative efforts included a feature on rental scams on the "Hello Singapore" program and planned broadcasts on HDB digital displays to further raise public awareness.

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9 May 2022

Number of Overseas Scam Calls Reported in 2021 and 2022 and Viability of Call Blocking Option for Users

The Minister reported that in 2021, telecommunication providers blocked an average of 15 million incoming overseas calls per month, including spoofed calls impersonating local agencies, and have used a "+" prefix since April 2020 to flag overseas calls.
The government noted that while a few international telcos offer call blocking as a commercial service, no regulator currently mandates blocking all overseas calls.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority is discussing the feasibility and implications of providing users with an option to block overseas calls with telcos and will make a decision after review.

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9 May 2022

Clarification by Minister for Home Affairs

The Minister for Home Affairs sought to correct a factual error in his previous reply regarding preventive detention sentences for recalcitrant sex offenders.
He clarified that the sentencing range is seven to 20 years, not seven to 14 years as previously stated.
The correction was made during a parliamentary session with the Speaker's permission.
The original error was from an earlier response to a question by Ms Joan Pereira.
The debate concluded with the Speaker moving to the introduction of Government Bills.

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9 May 2022

Law Students Found Cheating in Bar Examinations and Steps to Address Public Concerns

The Minister for Law addressed parliamentary questions about cheating by trainee lawyers in the 2020 Bar examinations, stating that the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) has introduced remote proctoring and found no further cheating cases, while the 11 involved are required to repeat courses or exams and face delayed admission to the Bar pending court review.
The Minister emphasized that cheating is a serious breach of honesty for fiduciary officers of the court, with admission decisions resting with the High Court considering views from the Attorney-General, SILE, and Law Society, while cautioning that discussions must be limited due to pending cases.
Parliamentarians sought information on historical cheating incidents and steps to address public concerns, with the Minister clarifying SILE had no prior findings of such cheating and noted safeguards were added post-COVID, while rejecting the notion of unconditional second chances but acknowledging the need for proportionate penalties.
Additional suggestions included conditional calling with community service, but the Minister stressed these are matters for the Attorney-General, Law Society, and courts to decide rather than government policy.

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5 Apr 2022

Data on Number of Emergency Calls made to SPF and SCDF over Last Three Years

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked for data on emergency calls to SPF and SCDF over the last three years, categorized by landline, residential landline, and mobile phone numbers.
The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, responded that neither agency tracks emergency calls by phone type.
No specific annual numbers were provided due to the lack of tracking for the requested categories.

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5 Apr 2022

Proportion of Scam Victims on Work Passes and Efforts to Educate Low-income Foreign Workers on Avenues of Recourse Available

In 2021, Work Permit holders made up 15.5% of scam victims, Long-Term Visit Pass holders 0.2%, and S Pass holders 1.6%.
Police collaborate with NGOs, dormitory operators, and embassies to share anti-scam advisories in foreign workers’ native languages, including steps for recourse after scams.
Outreach efforts focus on scam prevention tips and awareness, while the Ministry of Manpower provides anti-scam resources during the Settling-in-Programme.

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5 Apr 2022

Singaporeans Participating in Wars of Other Countries

Hazel Poa asked why it is illegal for Singaporeans to participate in wars of other countries, and K Shanmugam explained that under the Penal Code, such participation is an offence to prevent it from being misconstrued as Singapore's involvement and to avoid threats to national security.
The Minister emphasized that Singaporeans should not engage in violence except in defence of Singapore, and those returning from foreign conflicts may pose security risks.
He suggested alternative ways to help, such as donating to legitimate humanitarian organizations like the Singapore Red Cross for aid in Ukraine.

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5 Apr 2022

Trend of Youths Involved in Scams and Efforts to Prevent Their Being Lured into Joining Scam Syndicates

The number of youths below 30 arrested for scam-related offences rose sharply from 237 in 2019 to 509 in 2020, before slightly decreasing to 493 in 2021, and youths now comprise about half of all such offenders in Singapore.
Many youths are lured into scams as money mules, offering quick and easy money by handing over bank accounts, disclosing Singpass details, or making scam-related transfers for commission.
Police are educating youths through school and institute talks, crime prevention exhibitions, and targeted campaigns like the nationwide money mule initiative with the National Crime Prevention Council.
Awareness efforts include advisories, social media web-series episodes, and collaboration with stakeholders to highlight legal consequences and steps to take if suspected of being used as a money mule.
Police plan to continue enhancing outreach to youths to prevent their involvement in scams and other criminal activities.

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5 Apr 2022

Suspicious Financial Transaction Reports Related to Wildlife Crime Filed in Past Five Years

Financial institutions and related entities are legally required to report suspicious transactions linked to illegal wildlife trafficking, though detailed statistics on such reports are not publicly released.
The government enforces compliance through oversight by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and shares red flag indicators with banks and traders to improve detection.
Authorities emphasize collaboration between the public and private sectors to combat money laundering tied to wildlife crime, especially as criminal methods become more sophisticated.

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5 Apr 2022

Strengthening Floorboards of Commercial Lorries for Installation of Seat Belts

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Ministry for Transport whether it has studied strengthening the floorboards of commercial lorries for seat belt installation, similar to school buses, and if so, to share the findings or conduct a study if not already done.
The Ministry responded that LTA consulted industry and academia, and original equipment manufacturers warned that retrofitting seats, seat belts, and floorboard reinforcements could compromise structural integrity, alter vehicle dynamics, and create new safety risks.
OEMs also noted liability issues, as they cannot support or vouch for the safety of lorries retrofitted with seat belts, consistent with a 2008 tripartite review that highlighted potential safety risks from such modifications.

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5 Apr 2022

Upgrading of Circuit Breaker Systems to Provide Protection to Whole HDB Flat

Hazel Poa asked how many HDB flats have residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs) that do not protect the entire unit and whether these will be upgraded.
Desmond Lee stated that flats built before 1985, making up about 30% of HDB stock, initially used fuses, but RCCBs became mandatory from 1985 for new builds and major renovations; a survey shows less than 1% of pre-1985 flats lack full RCCB coverage.
The Energy Market Authority regulates electrical installations, requiring licensed workers and inspections by SP Group to ensure safety, with HDB including RCCB checks and replacements in its Home Improvement Programme since 2020.
Educational campaigns on electrical safety are conducted, and flat owners are advised to test RCCBs regularly and contact HDB for assistance if needed.
HDB will continue collaborating with the Energy Market Authority to enhance electrical safety awareness and measures for residents.

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5 Apr 2022

Cases of Injury and Death by Electrocution in HDB Flats in Past 10 Years

From 2014 to 2021, there were four electrocution incidents in HDB flats, resulting in five deaths and one injury, with one incident involving an unprotected circuit and two involving faulty circuit breakers.
Flats built before 1985, which make up about 30% of HDB stock, typically had fuses, but most have since been renovated and fitted with RCCBs; a survey estimates less than 1% of such flats lack full RCCB coverage.
Regulatory measures require licensed electrical workers to install and certify electrical systems, with SP Group conducting inspections before power is restored.
Since 2020, HDB has included RCCB checks and replacements in its Home Improvement Programme and advised owners to test RCCBs, while the Energy Market Authority runs educational campaigns to promote electrical safety.

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5 Apr 2022

Measures to Ensure Safety of Young Children and Elderly Persons in HDB Neighbourhoods with Heavy Vehicles Plying Roads

The Ministry explained that heavy vehicles generally avoid residential roads but may need to enter HDB areas for services like school buses, refuse collection, and deliveries, or for construction site access.
For construction-related heavy vehicle movements, LTA coordinates with agencies to plan routes, impose speed limits, and deploy traffic marshals when road space is shared.
To enhance safety, LTA has implemented School Zones and Silver Zones with reduced speed limits, speed humps, and traffic calming measures in areas frequented by children and the elderly.

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5 Apr 2022

Cases of Forged Identity Cards and Passports in Past Three Years

Melvin Yong asked about the number of people caught with forged Singapore identity cards or passports in the past three years, whether there is a rising trend, and how the Ministry plans to tackle the sale of such documents on messaging apps.
K Shanmugam replied that from 2019 to 2021, 51 people were convicted for possessing forged identity cards and 5 for forged passports, with no rising trend observed.
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority monitors online platforms for abuse of official documents and takes enforcement action where possible, while reminding the public that possession of forged documents is an offence punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both.

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