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Ministry of Home Affairs
Speeches

Sexual Awareness Crime Seminar - Speech by Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Home Affairs

27 April 2026

  1. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for the opportunity to speak at the annual Sexual Crime Awareness Seminar.

  2. Sexual crimes cause serious harm – not just to the victims, but also to their families and the broader community.

  3. Victims often experience severe and long-lasting psychological trauma, including flashbacks, and feelings of detachment, shame and guilt. The impact could also extend beyond the individual, affecting the relationships at home and at work.

  4. As such crimes occur in our public spaces, the community’s sense of safety is also compromised.

  5. This year’s seminar theme, “Community Action to Protect Sexual Crime Victims,” is therefore timely and critical. It underscores the need for collective effort in safeguarding our shared spaces and in supporting victims of sexual crimes.

Sexual Crime Situation

  1. The sexual crime situation in Singapore is stable.

  2. Over the last five years, the number of sexual assault cases has remained consistent – about 2,500 cases are reported each year. This includes rape, sexual assault involving penetration and outrage of modesty (or molestation), and sexual offences involving children and vulnerable victims. Singapore remains one of the safest cities in the world.

  3. However, there are some areas of concern.

  4. In 2025, the number of molestation cases increased by 7.3%, or from 1,427 cases in 2024 to 1,531 cases in 2025. About 76% of these cases took place in non-residential settings, such as on public transport and at nightspots.

  5. The digital world presents new and evolving risks for sexual crime. As many social interactions begin online, perpetrators may exploit the anonymity of the Internet and the proliferation of social media platforms, messaging and dating apps to look for and prey on unsuspecting victims.

Actions Taken to Manage Sexual Crime

  1. MHA has taken decisive action and strengthened our laws over the years to protect victims, in both physical and online settings.

  2. In 2019, we introduced a range of offences to tackle voyeurism, intimate image abuse, child abuse materials, and other forms of sexual offending.

  3. In 2021, we increased the penalties for outrage of modesty.

  4. Most recently, in 2025, we passed amendments to increase the penalties for the large-scale circulation of obscene materials and to introduce a new offence of administering an online location for the purpose of such large-scale circulation. To address the risks posed by generative AI, we also clarified that offences concerning intimate images and child abuse materials also cover AI-generated materials.

  5. The Police have stepped up public education efforts, including putting up prominent crime advisories on public transport, and establishing safety design guidelines for public toilets to deter crimes.

The Role of the Community

  1. However, MHA and the Police cannot tackle sexual crimes through laws and public education alone. We need the support of the entire community to send a strong message that sexual crime is not tolerated in Singapore.

  2. That is why we have been actively engaging industry partners to implement protective measures. Through the Safe Clubbing Campaign which was launched in May 2025, we aim to promote a safe environment for both patrons and staff of the public entertainment outlets, including curbing outrage of modesty in these settings.

  3. This year, we aim to go further by encouraging the community to become active agents of safety.

  4. Community vigilance has proven effective.

  5. In April 2025, two members of the public witnessed a man sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman at a shopping mall. They immediately intervened, tended to the victim and called the Police. The man was detained at the scene. The witnesses’ decisiveness and courage in standing up for the victim put a stop to the man’s actions and prevented further harm.

  6. In another case in May 2025, during peak hours on the MRT train, a vigilant commuter noticed a man deliberately positioning himself behind several unsuspecting female passengers and molesting them. The witness discreetly took photographs and videos which were crucial evidence that led to the man’s swift apprehension. He has been convicted on multiple charges of Outrage of Modesty and sentenced to 8 months’ imprisonment.

'Don’t' be a Bystander! SPOT it. Report it.' Campaign

  1. These stories show that when we are community-minded and willing to intervene to protect others, we increase guardianship and reduce opportunities for criminals to strike.

  2. To this end, the Police will launch a year-long campaign with the tagline: “Don’t be a Bystander! SPOT it. Report it.”

  3. This campaign introduces a simple protocol that provides a simple yet effective framework for action that can be applied by anyone, both in the physical world or online.

  4. S.P.O.T. stands for Spot, Protect, Observe, and Tell.

  5. First, stay alert and Spot suspicious behaviours. Members of the public should pay close attention to their surroundings because criminals can strike at any time. Vigilance is important as it denies offenders the opportunity to commit crimes. This also extends to the online space. Parents and guardians of minors should pay close attention to their online activities and watch out for risky behaviour. This includes interactions over social media and messaging platforms, such as an adult initiating private conversation with a minor, asking for personal details, or encouraging conversations to move to more private channels.

  6. Second, step forward to Protect potential victims but only when it is safe to do so. This can involve creating a distraction, such as making an excuse to draw the potential victim away, or inviting them to step aside with you. You can also stay nearby to reduce isolation, or seek help from others where needed. In online settings, safe intervention might involve guiding the person-at-risk to disengage, block the perpetrator, or report the interaction to appropriate channels.

  7. Third, Observe details about the perpetrator, such as clothing, location, direction of travel and mode of transport. If online, take screenshots of the suspicious activity. These are vital leads in police investigations.

  8. Last but not least, Tell the Police as soon as possible by calling 999. Do not confront the perpetrator on your own, including not engaging in doxxing behaviour online. This is to protect yourself against possible escalation and to avoid running afoul of the law. Prompt reporting enables a rapid police response, which protects others in the area and could even arrest predatory behaviour before any harm occurs.

  9. Police will be ramping up efforts to promote S.P.O.T. in four key domains.

  10. In public spaces, such as supermarkets and shopping malls, the Police will put up a fresh set of visuals by May 2026 to highlight the tagline to increase crime awareness and increase vigilance.

  11. Within the public transport network, the Police will reinforce anti-outrage of modesty messages with new visuals in the second half of 2026. They will also continue to maintain a strong presence in the MRT network to deter crimes.

  12. In public entertainment outlets, apart from new visuals, Police will put up mirror stickers with the campaign tagline, “Don’t be a Bystander! SPOT it. Report it.”, in washrooms within the outlets and in the vicinity.

  13. And last but not least, the Police will continue to partner MOE to conduct school talks throughout the year to raise students’ awareness of sexual crimes and familiarise them with S.P.OT..

Protecting Victims of Sexual Crime

  1. For the S.P.O.T. action protocol to be effective, we must not be afraid to report a sexual crime. Each of us can make a difference and prevent harm from being perpetuated by choosing to act and protect sexual crime victims.

  2. Victims are also encouraged to step forward and report a crime regardless of when it happened. Doing so as soon as possible can help preserve evidence, prevent further harm and bring a perpetrator to justice.

  3. The Police will investigate all reports professionally and objectively. Police officers and specialised investigation officers are trained to manage and investigate sexual crime cases sensitively. At the One-Stop Abuse Forensic Examination (OneSAFE) Centre, victims can attend Police interviews and medical examinations in a trauma-informed and victim-centric way.

  4. Victim Care Officers can also be activated to offer crisis intervention and psychological first aid to support victims throughout the investigation and court process.

Closing Remarks

  1. In closing, sexual crimes are serious offences that cause real harm. We must collectively do what we can to detect and deter such crimes.

  2. The community has an important role to play in fostering a shared culture of vigilance and guardianship, and I urge everyone to spread the campaign message. Don’t be a Bystander! SPOT it. Report it.

  3. Together, we can create a safer Singapore for all.

  4. Thank you very much.


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