Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Number of Police Reports that are Related to Buskers in the Past Five Years

Question:

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) for each year in the past five years, how many police reports relating to buskers have been made; and (b) whether the Ministry reviews such reports to assess if there are patterns of police reports being made for purposes of harassing or to unfairly disadvantage the business of other buskers.

Answer:

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

1. The Police do not track the number of reports that relate to buskers.

2. Where a Police report is made, the Police will make an assessment of the case, and will respond accordingly if there are law and order concerns.

3. If a person makes a report which they know or believe to be false, with the intent to cause the Police to use their lawful powers to the annoyance of another, they may be liable for an offence under section 182 of the Penal Code 1871.