Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Number of Investigations into Cases of Abuse Against Persons with Special Needs in the Past Five Years

Question:

Ms He Ting Ru : To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many cases of abuse committed against persons with special needs have been reported and investigated over each of the last five years; and (b) whether the Ministry is looking into enhancing measures to identify abuse committed against persons with special needs, in particular, those who are low-functioning.

Answer:

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

1. The Singapore Police Force does not track the number of abuse cases committed specifically against persons with special needs.

2. Our criminal laws already provide enhanced protection for vulnerable persons against physical and sexual harm. For vulnerable persons, who can include individuals with special needs or any other physical or mental infirmity, disability, or incapacity, enhanced penalties of up to two times the maximum prescribed penalty for the offence may apply under section 74A of the Penal Code. We also have specific offences to protect individuals with mental disabilities. For example, section 376F of the Penal Code makes it an offence to procure sexual activity with a person with mental disability. They complement other laws that protect vulnerable individuals, such as the Children and Young Persons Act, Women’s Charter, Vulnerable Adults Act and the Mental Capacity Act.

3. The Government also has a range of upstream measures to detect cases of abuse. For example, frontline professionals, such as those in schools, healthcare institutions and social service agencies, are trained to identify and detect abuse or neglect. Members of the public are also encouraged to report suspected abuse or neglect via the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline.