Molest cases on trains a small percentage, crime prevention messages sufficient
Commuters at City Hall MRT Station. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The number of outrage-of-modesty cases on trains in relation to the annual total is small, and there is no need to put up warning signs or to have women-only train carriages for now.
Responding to a question raised by Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC) on the number of reported molest cases on MRT trains and what the Home Affairs Ministry plans to do to cut down on such incidents, Mr Amrin Amin said that outrage-of-modesty cases represent 5 per cent of the total number of such cases reported annually here.
The Parliamentary Secretary for the Home Affairs Ministry revealed during the Parliament sitting on Tuesday (March 1) that over the past three years, there has been an annual average of 71 cases on MRT and LRT trains: 65 cases in 2013, 79 cases in 2014 and 69 cases last year.
“These numbers have to be seen in the context of an increasing number of passenger trips on trains over the years, with almost three million passenger trips daily on trains,” Mr Amrin explained.
To Dr Lee’s other question on whether signs would be put up in train carriages to alert commuters, he said such a move is not needed because the presence of police officers from the Public Transport Security Command on their patrol rounds helps to “deter and detect crime, including cases of outrage of modesty”.
There has also been collaboration with the public transport operators, including the display of police posters on trains and station platforms, screening of videos, as well as crime prevention roadshows in train stations and bus interchanges to raise commuters’ vigilance against crime.
“Our assessment is that the current level of crime prevention messages is sufficient and there is no need at present to include warning signs in trains.” Mr Amrin said.
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera asked whether the Government would consider experimenting with having women-only carriages if the number of cases worsens or “it shows a worsening trend”, but Mr Amrin would only say that the situation has not “reached that stage” so it is unlikely the Government would “go to such a drastic measure”.
He also said he could not go into the details to address Dr Lee’s point about whether there were sufficient security cameras in the trains and on the platforms, but he assured her that the ministry “takes very seriously not just outrage of modesty, but the general security of our trains”.
The reminder to commuters is to stay alert and be aware of their surroundings, to look out for suspicious persons, and to take steps to protect themselves from being victims of crimes.
The maximum penalty for outrage of modesty is two years’ jail or a fine or caning, or any combinations of these punishments. The penalty increases to five years’ jail if the victim is under 14 years of age.
