REVIEW OF LEGISLATION AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Government has any plans to review legislation affecting juvenile delinquents in view of rising crimes among the group.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Juvenile Delinquency Trend

The incidence of crime involving juvenile delinquents is not rising. In the first 5 months of 1999, the number of juveniles arrested decreased by 42%, from 1,079 to 631 compared to the same period last year. The misperception could be due to a number of recent cases happening in quick succession and extensive media coverage on these cases.

Juvenile delinquency is a multi-faceted problem. The reasons why a juvenile turns to crime are diverse and complex in nature. A concerted effort by Governmental bodies, social agencies, community organisations, and parents and family members is needed to deal with the problem effectively. In this regard, the "Inter-Ministry Committee on Youth Crime" or IMYC which I chair monitors the youth crime situation and coordinates the various measures by key agencies such as the Police, schools, the Courts, MCD, NYC and VWOs to tackle youth crimes. A wide range of measures, such as the Streetwise Programme, the Honorary VSC Scheme and the Guidance Programme, have been put in place over the last 2-3 years. These measures have kept in check the incidence of juvenile and youth crimes in the past couple of years.

Meanwhile, the Government is reviewing the Children and Young Persons Act to enhance the rehabilitation programmes for youth offenders. The review will look at provisions for the treatment of juvenile offenders. In the area of juvenile delinquency, we will be looking at alternative treatment options and provisions to enhance the rehabilitation process.

On its part, Police will continue to make its presence felt on the ground and monitor places where youths usually gather. It will continue to conduct checks on suspicious juveniles found loitering in the void decks, coffee shops, fast food outlets and shopping malls.