DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROSECUTIONS (Statistics)

Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will provide the latest statistics of reports on domestic violence and prosecutions and whether domestic violence is on the increase.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): From January to March 1994, Police received 529 reports of domestic violence. 526 of these reports involved the causing of hurt. The other three cases involved more serious offences of Voluntarily Causing Hurt by Dangerous Weapons or Means and Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt.

As for prosecutions, two of the three accused persons who had committed serious hurt were charged in court. One case was compounded. One accused person has been imprisoned for six months and given two strokes of the cane. Investigations into the third case is still going on.

Based on the number of Protection Orders issued by the courts over the last five years, there appears to be an increase in domestic violence. A total of 512 Protection Orders were issued in 1993 compared to 230 Orders in 1989. However, this increase may also be partly attributed to a greater willingness on the part of the victims to seek protection through the courts.

Spousal violence is not just another form of violent crime. It is a social problem that should be tackled in a coordinated manner involving the relevant Government agencies and voluntary welfare organisations. My Ministry has adopted this coordinated approach and has formed an inter-Ministry working group, comprising representatives from the Police, MOH and MCD. It will also include representatives of the Singapore Council of Women's Organisation. Various suggestions have been made on how to better help these abused spouses. These will be considered by the working group.

Mr Chng Hee Kok (Tampines GRC): Sir, will the Minister define what is "serious hurt"? The second question is: Are all perpetrators of domestic violence given a mandatory reprimand or warning or counselling?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, the various categories of hurt and serious hurt are all defined in the law and the Police look at the seriousness of the offence, ie, whether bruises and whatever injuries have been inflicted on the spouse. Then they will classify the case accordingly and seek the Attorney-General's advice before the case is to be determined by the court. The Police, when it comes across such cases as reported by the spouses, will certainly go to the scene and try to help sort out the matter and, if necessary, they will also caution the spouse who has committed the violence.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: Sir, there are reports that the policemen are not particularly sympathetic, especially when the spouse making the report is a lady.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: The Police are always sympathetic.