Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Types of Offences Where Statements Were Video-Recorded from Witnesses and Suspects During Investigations by Law Enforcement Agencies Since 2018

Question:

Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Minister for Law (a) for what kinds of offences have statements been video-recorded from witnesses and suspects during investigations by law enforcement agencies since video-recording was introduced in 2018; (b) what has been the impact of video-recorded statements in achieving positive outcomes, such as reducing allegations of involuntariness of statements; and (c) whether the Ministry will expand the categories of offences for which video-recording of statements will be required.

Answer:

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

1.   The Member may wish to refer to past replies to Parliamentary Questions on the categories of offences for which video recording of interview (VRI) is conducted. In fact, we addressed this most recently in March 2023. We will expand VRI to more categories of offences in future.

2.   We currently do not conduct video recording for interviews with witnesses.

3.   VRI has indeed been useful in providing an objective account of the interview, capturing non-verbal cues, such as the interviewee’s demeanour and expressions.

4.   However, it is not possible to state conclusively whether VRI has reduced allegations of statements not being made voluntarily because each case is different. In cases where such allegations are raised, VRI allows the courts to take the interviewee’s demeanour into account in determining the admissibility or weight to be accorded to the interviewee’s statement.