Stricter controls proposed to curb illegal activities in entertainment venues
SINGAPORE — Tighter controls over public entertainment establishments such as nightspots, billiard salons and Internet cafes, were proposed yesterday, largely targeted at curtailing illicit activities on these premises.
To quickly curb illegal activities being carried out at such premises, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) proposed giving the police powers to suspend a public entertainment licence as soon as a licensee or anyone involved in the business is charged in court for committing serious crimes, such as dealing in drugs, trafficking in persons, and offences under the Organised Crime Act.
The ministry also sought to allow officers to enter premises by force when they suspect the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act is being flouted but are denied entry.
Apart from a proposed doubling of penalties for those who breach licensing rules to a S$20,000 fine, the MHA also wants to make sure “unsuitable” persons are not allowed to be the directors or partners of such public entertainment businesses.
It is also seeking powers to impose demerit points for offences that are taken into consideration for sentencing. Currently, demerit points can be imposed only for convicted offences.
Part of the amendment Bill also seeks to allow an arts entertainment licensing officer from the Info-communications Media Development Authority to issue classification ratings with conditions, and refuse classification if there is content exceeding the R18 rating. The Act will also be renamed as the Public Entertainments Act, as “meetings”, such as rallies, talks and forums, are regulated under the Public Order Act, which was enacted in 2009.
Several other Bills were introduced yesterday. One tabled by the MHA was the Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material) Bill, which criminalises intentional and unlawful possession of any radioactive material. Under the proposed new law, the intent to use the radioactive material or any nuclear explosive device to cause the death of or serious bodily injury, or substantial damage to property or the environment, would also amount to an offence.
The MHA said the enactment of this new statute is to allow Singapore to ratify the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT) adopted by the United Nations.
ICSANT seeks to prevent and suppress acts of nuclear terrorism through the criminalisation of such acts, and the provision of international assistance in relation to such acts.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Law tabled the Registered Designs (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to support the growth of the design industry by making it easier for designers to protect their creative works.
The ministry proposed a broader scope of designs that could be registered to include non-physical products — such as a light-projected keyboard — artisanal or handicrafted items, and colours that are used as a design feature. A change in default ownership of a design was also proposed, from the commissioner of the project, to the creator.
To give designers greater flexibility in protecting their designs, the grace period for applying for registration was also lengthened from six months to 12 months, under the proposed law. Currently, a designer cannot publicly disclose his design before making the filing, unless the design was disclosed in limited circumstances, such as in certain exhibitions. To protect the design, an application must be made within six months.
Three other Bills were introduced yesterday, including the Merchant Shipping (Wreckage) Bill, the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Amendment) Bill, and Singapore University of Social Sciences Bill.
