Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Boosting Community Partnerships to Strengthen Support for Victims of Sexual Crime and Family Violence

Question:

Ms Mariam Jaafar: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether he can provide an update on the efforts to boost community partnerships to strengthen support for victims of sexual crime and family violence.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1. The Police collaborate with community partners and strategic stakeholders to support victims of sexual crime and family violence. For example, the Police are working with SG Her Empowerment Limited (SHE) to improve the reporting experience for victims. As of October 2022, 167 volunteers have been appointed under the Victim Care Cadre Programme (VCCP). Police can activate these volunteers, with the consent of the victim, to provide emotional support throughout the course of investigations. The Police also work with the Family Violence Specialist Centres (FVSCs), which provide support to victims of any form of violence, including sexual violence.

2.   Since July 2022, the Police have deployed Family Violence Community Police Officers in all Neighbourhood Police Centres. These officers manage family violence cases and escalate high-risk cases to social service agencies to enable early upstream intervention.

3.   The Police Training Workgroup (PTWG) was set up by the Police and MSF in June 2021 to enhance training for frontline Police Officers in managing victims of family violence, as recommended by the Taskforce on Family Violence. Members of the PTWG come from diverse backgrounds such as Family Service Centres, the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations, crisis shelters and the Family Justice Court. The workgroup has tapped on the members' professional and practical experiences to develop a scenario-based training package for the office

4.   The Family Violence Working Groups (FVWGs) comprising community and government agencies were set up in March 2021 to raise awareness of family violence and ensure that victims have access to help. MSF will also continue to raise public awareness on family violence through the Break the Silence campaign and providing Family and Domestic Violence Awareness Training to more stakeholders across the public, private and people sectors.

5.   We urge anyone who suspects or witnesses family violence to call the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) at 1800-777-0000