Crime in Singapore

Crime in Singapore is extremely low compared to other developed nations and the world in general. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit 2019 Safe Cities Index, Singapore was ranked as the safest city[note 1] in the world, especially in regards to digital, personal and infrastructure security.[1] The country also ranks highly on the Global Peace Index, being consistently placed in the top 10 and the highest in Asia for the past decade.[2]

Singapore Police car in its current livery.

Police statistics released in the year 2016 suggested 33,608 criminal cases from a population of more than five and a half million, with most of them being cybercrimes. Between the years 2014 and 2015, there was an observed statistical decrease in violent or serious property offenses, housebreaking, theft, and unlicensed moneylending harassment.

As suggested by foreign travel advisory from the United Kingdom, petty crime such as pickpocketing and street theft are extremely rare in Singapore. Violent crime is also deemed as extremely rare and almost non-existent. Threats of terrorism remain a major concern, as is the case with most developed countries.[3] As a constant reminder from consulars to possible drug traffickers such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, penalties for drug offences such as trafficking in Singapore remain severe and include capital punishment for certain cases such as high amounts of possession.[4]

In 2020, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) of the United States Department of State states Singapore as being a very low-threat location for crime directed at or affecting "official U.S. government interests".[5] The foreign advisory of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China also considers Singapore as a low-risk country.[6]

Online fraud

E-commerce cheating cases increased by about 30 per cent between 2014 and 2015.[7] Noted concerns as of 2016 may also include impersonation[8] and employment scams.[9]

However, there was a noteworthy increase in awareness about online scams in 2015.[10] From just 66 credit-for-sex scams in 2014, the number increased to 1,203 within 2015, with the reported victims being cheated a total of around S$2.9 million. The largest amount of money scammed include S$74,000 in a single case and a fraud syndicate was busted overseas.[11] during December 2015 when a total of 43 were arrested from scams operated from WeChat.[12]

As of 2016, the greatest domestic vice concern remains as commercial offences over the Internet, with a 47 percent increase between 2014 and 2015.

Crime rate between Singaporeans and foreigners

In December 2013, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stated, "their (foreign workers) crime rates are, in fact, lower than Singaporeans in general." when addressing concerns that foreigners could potentially increase the crime rate in the country.

In January 2014, Lina Chiam of Singapore People's Party had asked in Parliament, the breakdown of crimes committed by Singaporeans, permanent residents and foreigners respectively between 2009 and 2013. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean replied that during the period, more than 18,000 persons were arrested each year, of which 20% were foreigners with an arrest rate of 272 per 100,000 foreigners, while the arrest rate for residents was 385 per 100,000 residents. No breakdown between Singaporeans and permanent residents was given.[13]

Crime deterrence
Main article: Singapore Police Force

The National Crime Prevention Council of Singapore maintains a web portal Scam Alert that offers scam prevention campaign posters[14] and also encourages victims to come forward to share their stories.[15]

The Neighbourhood Watch Zone scheme was formed in 27 April 1997[16] and today includes the Citizens On Patrol (COP) initiative, which conducts regular foot patrol with community policing.[17] Officers go around each neighbourhood to project police presence and to disseminate crime prevention pamphlet to the residents.[18]

Sex trafficking
Main article: Sex trafficking in Singapore

During the 1960s and 1970s, sex trafficking was considered a significant problem. Today, it still exists, but on a lesser extent. There have been cases of Singaporean and foreign women (usually from poorer countries) have been forced into prostitution in brothels and been physically and psychologically abused.[19][20][21]

Response

The Singapore government has made major efforts to curb sex trafficking in the country. In recent years tougher penalties were passed into law aimed at traffickers, which has caused a sharp decline in such crimes. Ever since, trafficking has no longer been considered a major issue.[22][23]

Notes
  1. Singapore has a unique status of being a city-state, and so different metrics or rankings may classify it as either a city or a country, or both.

See also

References
  1. "Safe Cities Index 2019". economist.com. The Economist. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2020. The Safe Cities Index 2019 is a report from The Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by NEC Corporation. The report is based on the third iteration of the index, which ranks 60 cities across 57 indicators covering digital security, health security, infrastructure security and personal security.
  2. "Global Peace Index 2019" (PDF). visionofhumanity.org. Institute for Economics and Peace.
  3. "Foreign UK Travel Advice for Terrorism". GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. "Singapore". Smartraveller. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  5. "Singapore 2020 Crime & Safety Report". osac.gov. United States Department of State. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020. According to the current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication, Singapore has been assessed as Level 1, indicating travelers should exercise normal precautions.
  6. "China and Singapore". fmprc.gov.cn. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  7. Lim, Yi Han. "Spike in online scams but overall crime rate still low". Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  8. "Impersonation Scam". Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  9. LAW, ELIZABETH. "Teen cons $14,000 out of job seekers". TNP. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  10. "Get Rea! 2015 - EP12". SINGAPORES SCAMMERS. Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  11. "CREDIT FOR SEX SCAM: Victims conned into paying for non-existent sexual services". Malaysia Chronicle. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  12. Chew, Hui Min. "Chinese police arrest 43 in syndicate targeting Singapore men in credit-for-sex scams". Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  13. "Dormitory warns foreign workers to think of loved ones before committing crimes like molest and robbery". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  14. "Campaign Posters". Scam Alert Singapore. National Crime Prevention Council (Singapore). Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  15. "Your Scam Story is Important to Us!". Scam Alert Singapore. National Crime Prevention Council (Singapore). Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  16. "NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ZONE". Singapore Police Force. Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  17. Lee, Denise (15 December 2014). "Citizens on Patrol members commended at Community Policing System roll-out". Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  18. Lee, Denise. "Citizens on Patrol: Sentinels of safety in the neighbourhood". Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  19. "How a 14-year-old girl was trafficked to Singapore and locked up". Asia One. 2017.
  20. "Sex trafficking in Singapore: How changes to the law may protect women duped into prostitution". CNA. November 10, 2019.
  21. "'She had lost all reason to live': Undoing the horrors of being trafficked to Singapore and seeking justice". cna. February 15, 2020.
  22. "Trafficking In Persons". Ministry of Home Affairs.
  23. "Sex trafficking in Singapore: How changes to the law may protect women duped into prostitution". CNA. November 10, 2019.
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