Press Releases

Mid-Year Overview of Singapore’s Safety and Security Situation

Published: 29 August 2016

                                          JANUARY TO JUNE 2016


Law and Order Situation in Singapore Remains Favourable


Improvement in Overall Crime Situation


Crime remains low, with the total number of crime cases falling by 2.1% from the same period last year[1]. This reduction is largely driven by the fall in "Violent/Serious Property Crimes", "Housebreaking and Related Crimes" and "Theft and Related Crimes". However, the number of "Crimes Against Persons", "Commercial Crimes", and "Miscellaneous Crimes" rose compared to a year ago.

 

                                        Table 1: Crime Cases Reported

   Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference   %Difference
Violent/Serious Property Crimes 164 131 -33 -20.1%
Housebreaking and Related Crimes 174 139 -35 -20.1 %
Theft and Related Crimes 8,034 7,122 -912 -11.4%
Miscellaneous Crimes 2,514 2,626 112 +4.5%
Crimes Against Persons 2,012 2,148 136 +6.8%
Commercial Crimes 4,068 4,441 373 +9.2%
Total Number of Crime Cases 16,966 16,607 -359 -2.1%


Reduction in Fatal Traffic Accidents

2. The number of fatal traffic accidents fell 12.0% from the same period last year.                                                     Table 2: Fatal Traffic Accidents

 

                   Jan - Jun 15  Jan - Jun 16  Difference   % Difference 
 Fatal Accidents      75 66  -9   -12.0%

 

Fall in Number of Fire Calls

 

3. The Singapore Civil Defence Force responded to 2,146 fire calls in the first half of 2016, a 10.8% fall from the 2,406 fire calls in the same period last year.

 

                                             Table 3: Fire Calls By Type of Premises
  Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference %Difference
Residential Premises 1,467 1,427 -40 -2.7%
Non-Residential Premises 254 255 1 +0.4%
Non-Building Places 685 464 -221 -32.3%
Overall Number of Fire Calls 2,406 2,146 -260 -10.8%

Improvement in Immigration Offender Situation


4. The total number of immigration offenders arrested continued to decrease. In the first half of 2016, the number of arrests fell by about 36.6% from the same period last year.

 

                                        Table 4: Immigration Offenders Arrested
   Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference %Difference
Illegal Immigrants 133 88 -45 -33.8%
Overstayers 849 535 -314 -37.0%
Overall Number of Immigration Offenders Arrested 982 623 -359 -36.6%

Trends of Concern


Increase in Internet-Related Scams


5. Internet-related crimes increased, with 'Internet Love Scam' cases rising by 98.7% and 'Cheating Involving E-Commerce' cases increasing by 13.4%. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) adopts a multi-pronged approach of tough enforcement action, community partnership and public education to combat internet-related scams. SPF will continue to work closely with the National Crime Prevention Council, other law enforcement agencies, schools, parents and community partners to raise awareness of internet-related scams.

 

                                              Table 5: Crimes of Concern
  Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference %Difference
Cheating  Involving E- Commerce 1,010 1,145 135 +13.4%
Internet Love Scams 150 298 148 +98.7%


Increase in Traffic Accidents Involving Elderly Pedestrians


6. The number of traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians increased. The Traffic Police (TP) will continue its engagement efforts to reach out to senior citizens to raise road safety awareness. TP will also continue to work closely with its partners and the community to implement initiatives to enhance road safety for elderly pedestrians.

 

                          Table 6: Traffic Accidents Involving Elderly Pedestrians
  Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference %Difference
Fatal Accidents 10 12 2 +20.0%
Injury Accidents 93 111  18 +19.4%


Increase in Emergency Medical Services Calls


7. The number of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls continued to increase. In the first half of this year, the number of ambulance calls that SCDF responded to increased by about 8.0% from the same period last year.

 

                             Table 7: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Calls
Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference %Difference
Overall Number of EMS Calls 81,686 88,182 6,496 +8.0%


Increase in Number of New Drug Abusers under 30 Years Old  


8. While the overall drug situation remains stable, there is an increase in the number of new drug abusers under 30 years old.  The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 1,778 drug abusers in the first half of this year[2]. This was an increase of 3.6% from the 1,717 drug abusers it arrested in the same period last year. About 41.0% (729) of all drug abusers arrested were new abusers. Among the new abusers, 66.5% (485) were below 30 years old. The number of new abusers below 30 years old increased by 8.7%.

 

                                           Table 8A: Local Drug Abusers Arrested

Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference %Difference
New Abuses 629 729 100 +15.9%
Total Drug Abuses (New & Repeat) 1,717 1,778 61 +3.6%

 
                                         Table 8B: New Drug Abusers by Age-Groups
Jan - Jun 15 Jan - Jun 16 Difference %Difference
Below 30 446 485 39 +8.7%
Age 30-39 132 167 35 +26.5%
Age 40-49 41 61 20 +48.8%
Age 50-59 9 14 5 +55.6%
Age 60 & Above 1 2 1 +100.0%
Total New Abusers 629 729 100 +15.9%


Everyone Can Play a Part to Keep Singapore Safe and Secure


9. Our law and order situation remains favourable. Nevertheless, Singapore continues to face various threats, especially terrorism. The community has a key role to keep Singapore safe and secure.

 

10. The SGSecure national movement will be officially launched next month and will sensitise, train and mobilise Singaporeans in preventing and dealing with a terror attack. Every member of the community must do their part by staying alert to security threats, staying united as one people, and staying strong to bounce back quickly in the event of a terror attack.

 

Infographic (PNG, 875KB)

[1] Figures for the first half of 2016 are provisional as of 5 July 2016.

[2] Figures for the first half of 2016 are provisional as of 11 July 2016.

Topics

Civil Defence and Emergency Preparedness
Anti-drug
Immigration and Checkpoints Security
Managing Security Threats
Law and order