Eradicating Gang-related Activities

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in the past three years, how many people have been arrested for gang-related activities; (b) what are the authorities doing to outlaw gangsterism; and (c) in light of gangs using social media to recruit youths, what is being done to identify and educate at-risk youths.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) closely monitors and controls the gang situation in Singapore through tough laws and strict enforcement.

The number of rioting cases with secret society connotations is an indicator of the gang situation in Singapore. In the last three years, these rioting cases have declined from 62 cases in 2014 to 55 cases in 2015 and 52 cases in 2016. The number of gang-related rioting cases involving youths has also declined, from 21 cases in 2014 to 16 cases per year in 2015 and 2016.

Beyond enforcement, the SPF also works closely with the Singapore Prison Service, MOE, MSF and Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) to implement a range of preventive intervention and rehabilitative initiatives targeting at-risk youths.

One key preventive initiative is the conduct of anti-gang talks, especially targeted at secondary school students, to discourage them from getting involved in street gang activities.

Since 2008, the SPF has also been conducting training camps for youths to steer them away from crime or gang-related activities through team-based activities, self-reflection and sharing sessions by former gang members.

In addition, youths detected to be involved in gang activities may also be diverted to the Streetwise Programme, which includes curfew hours and counselling sessions involving the youths and their parents.

We will continue to keep a tight rein on gang activities in Singapore, including closely monitoring gang-related activities online.