CRIME PREVENTION AND SECRET SOCIETY ACTIVITIES (Police talks to students)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the police have conducted talks, particularly on criminal activities and their consequences, to students in secondary schools, junior colleges and institutes of the Voca- tional and Industrial Training Board, as part of their educational programme for the general public.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, the police have indeed given talks to school students on crime prevention and the dangers of being involved in secret society and criminal activities.

There is also a Crime Prevention Education Programme in the school curriculum and textbooks on Crime Prevention are given to school teachers to educate students from Primary 4 to Secondary 2. Crime Prevention talks are given as and when requested by school principals.

Talks on secret society and criminal activities are also given to students, in particular to those in the Primary School Extended Classes and Secondary Schools.

In 1988, for instance, Senior Police Officers gave more than 200 talks to schools, VITB and other educational institutions. That figure, Sir, is in addition to talks given to some 68 groups of students who visited the CID.

Mr Teo Chong Tee (Changi): May I ask the hon. Minister whether there is an increase in the number of secret society activities or criminal activities involving students in recent years?

Prof. Jayakumar: Sir, I do not have the precise figures but it is my impression that the overall situation is under control. But if the Member would like a more detailed answer, I would invite him to put in a question and I assure him that the answer will be given.