CRIMINAL JUSTICE (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.50 p.m.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, in the combat of crime it is essential to have not only an effective police force to detect and arrest criminals but also an adequate system of punishment and rehabilitation of the criminals when convicted. Those who are convicted of serious crimes such as armed robbery, criminal intimidation and rioting should be sentenced to corrective training for periods of three to seven years. Such corrective training is provided for in section 3(1) of the Criminal Justice (Temporary Provisions) Act, but it applies only to persons who are not less than 18 years of age.

A disturbing trend has now emerged in that more and more young persons between the ages of 16 and 18 years are committing serious crimes. However, this trend is not peculiar to Singapore. It is a trend which' is prevalent the world over.

In 1970, the number of criminals within this age group who were sent to penal institutions totalled 186. This number increased during the following four years, that is, 1971-74. In 1974, the figure had reached 377. However, in the first six months of this, year, the number has already reached 377. Expressed as a percentage of the total number of criminals sent to penal institutions, those who were within the age group of 16-18 years in 1970 accounted for 6.5%. In the first six months of this year the corresponding figure has already reached 9.1%.

The Prisons Reorganisation Committee recommended that the minimum age for corrective training be lowered from 18 years to 16 years to enable the District and High Courts to sentence younger criminals to corrective training. This recommendation has been accepted by Government and clause 2 of the Bill is intended to give effect to this recommendation.

Clause 3 seeks to make certain minor consequential amendments to the First Schedule to the Act.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Chua Sian Chin].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment, read a Third time and passed.