Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Rise in Outrage of Modesty Cases on Public Transport, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Miss Cheng Li Hui: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs with regard to the rise in outrage of modesty cases on public transport (a) what are the current measures in place to ensure that commuters are able to travel safely and whether they are sufficient; (b) how does the Ministry plan to deal with the rise; (c) whether most cases occur at peak or non-peak hours; and (d) whether the number of male victims has risen.

Answer:

1. To deter outrage of modesty (OM), the Police conduct patrols at bus interchanges, train platforms, and on board trains. Police are also working with community volunteers through the Citizen on Patrol (COP) initiative to complement the patrols conducted by the Police.

2. The Police will continue their efforts to educate and raise public awareness of OM. Advisories have been placed at prominent locations in the MRT stations, bus interchanges, on trains and buses. Police officers have been distributing advisories on OM to commuters.

3. We urge victims to make a Police report as soon as possible. Reporting the crime early is crucial to help the Police identify and arrest the perpetrator.

4. OM happens during both peak and off-peak hours, in roughly the same proportion. Hence, we urge commuters to be vigilant at all times.

5. The percentage of OM cases involving male victims has remained relatively low over the past three years.

6. The Police are monitoring the increase in OM cases and will regularly review their measures.