COMMERCIAL CRIME DIVISION (Upgrading and improvement)

Mr Tan Soo Khoon asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in view of the increase in commercial crime, what steps are being taken to upgrade and improve the Commercial Crime Division.

Prof. S. Jayakumar (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, commercial crime in Singapore is on the rise. Last year alone, some 2,181 commercial crime cases were reported, This is an increase of 23.5% over that for 1981 during which 1,767 cases were recorded. This increase in commercial crime is expected to continue in the years ahead. Such crimes are also expected to become more complex.

Officers involved in investigation of commercial crime have been sent for training both locally at the Police Academy as well as overseas to upgrade their skills. The overseas courses include the Computer Crime Investigation Course at the FBI Academy and the Commercial Crime Courses at the Australian Police College. Attachments of Commercial Crime officers to the British and Australian police fraud squads have also been arranged on a regular basis.

Courses on Commercial Crime investigations are being held regularly in the Police Academy. The courses are attended by officers from the Commercial Crime Division as well as the investigating officers from the eight Police Land Divisions.

Realizing the importance of upgrading the Commercial Crime Division to cope with the complexities and the rising number of commercial crimes, my Ministry has invited a British Team to make a study. The team comprises two experienced police officers of the New Scotland Yard Fraud Department and a white-collar crime investigator from the British Department of Trade and Industry. This team has now arrived in Singapore to review the organization, functions and responsibilities of the Division. The team will make recommendations for the improvement of commercial crime investigations to face the challenges ahead. It will also review the training of investigating officers and the legislations pertaining to commercial crime. The assignment will be completed by the end of March 1983.