DELTA CONSTITUENCY (Crimes)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Defence (a) what is the total number of cases of robbery and theft in the Delta Constituency from 1st January, 1970, up to the latest convenient date; (b) whether he will consider increasing police patrols in the vicinity of the Alexandra Road Market where most of the crimes were committed; and (c) whether the abolition of the Havelock Road Police Station has diminished police vigilance in the area.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, for the first six months of this year a total of 163 cases of robbery and theft in the Delta Constituency were reported to the Police. In comparison with other crime prone areas in Singapore, the crime rate in the Delta Constituency is the second highest. The highest is in Toa Payoh. During the same period, 44, or 27 per cent, of the cases of robbery and theft reported in the Delta Constituency occurred in the vicinity of Alexandra Road Market. The Queenstown Police Station will continue to provide mobile and foot patrols to police the whole area. In addition, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department are employed to supplement the divisional police in their work.

Mr Speaker, Sir, although the Havelock Road Police Station was demolished by 1st September, 1969, police vigilance in the Havelock Road area has not diminished. In fact, police patrols have recently been increased for crime prevention work in view of the redevelopment of this area.

Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wonder whether the Minister can tell the House why there is such a sharp increase in the number of crimes in the Delta Constituency.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know whether the Member himself can tell the House why there is such a sharp increase in crime. Taken as a whole, the increase is not that high. I think there is an overall increase because of an increase in the population. Probably a sociologist will be able to tell the Member for Delta exactly why there is an increase in crime.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the authorities have carried out a crime prevention campaign, and an exhibition was staged in the hope that crime will be reduced and prevented. I would like to know from the Minister whether the crime rate has decreased after the staging of such a campaign.

Mr Lim Kim San: From reports gathered, the crime prevention campaign has been quite a success. A lot of people have seen the display and the kind of preventive work that can be done. It is too early for me to say whether there has been an appreciable decrease in crime as a result of this campaign. If people take to heart the lessons that can be learnt from this campaign, I am sure there will be a decrease in crime.