POLICING OF PARKS

Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung asked the Minister for Home Affairs what steps are being taken to police the various parks that are used by joggers and others so as to ensure a safe environment for them.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, the National Parks Board, Police and the community are jointly responsible for ensuring safety in our public parks.

The Police, in addition to park rangers, regularly patrol public parks, to project their presence. The Police also carry out anti-crime operations whenever necessary.

The Police cannot be everywhere all the time to prevent and deter crime. Members of the public should also play their part and take proper precautions, such as not going to secluded or poorly-lit places when they are alone. They should also report to the Police or the park authorities whenever they see suspicious persons lurking in the vicinity.

Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung (Sembawang): Is it not true that recently there was a case where a jogger was attacked in broad daylight and, as a result, suffered fatal injuries? Would that not be regarded as a particularly worrying thing for us to look again at the security in the parks?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Our sympathies are with the family of this girl on the incidence of this crime. It is a heinous crime. But the point is this: The overall situation in the parks is safe. That is an important point to note. In fact, over the last two years, only seven out of the 228 rapes were committed in the parks and playgrounds. All of them were committed, except for one, by persons known to the victims. While the incident is something that all of us deplore, the point is that unless you take unnecessary risks in our parks, it would be quite safe to use our parks.

Mr S. Iswaran (West Coast): Sir, the nature of this crime, and perhaps the nature and manner in which it has been reported by the media, has left an indelible impression in the minds of the public with respect to the general security, notwithstanding the recent crime statistics and their improvement. The question is this: can the Ministry and the police do more to reassure the public that matters are indeed under control?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, certainly, police on the ground in the various divisions know where patrols need to be done. Indeed, with the new Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) set up, more patrols have been projected on the ground. Police's estimation is that last year about 4% more in terms of police projection was on the ground. We should leave it to the police to exercise professional judgment where the patrols should be mounted. As I have said, I am sure they do regularly patrol parks. If there are parks out there which are secluded, police presence will be felt. I have been told that, in fact, at the particular park in question, ie, the Bukit Batok Nature Park, police patrols are mounted there. Having said this, let me also say that while police will certainly do its part, the community can also do its part. For example, under the CSSP, there is a park, ie, the Bukit Purmei Park, where the community has also mounted patrols.

Overall, our parks are safe. But, as in anywhere, if a person is not aware of the risk and danger, even walking at night - of course, we are very safe here - if it so happens that you are at the wrong place at the wrong time, a heinous crime can also take place. Our parks are safe. Let me give that assurance. Police is mindful that there is a need for them to be aware professionally of areas in the park that need patrol and yet, at the same time, the call is to all Singaporeans to also take this call to heart not, for example, as I have said, to be alone in secluded places or at night. At the same time, on the ground, under the CSSP programme, if community leaders like yourselves, working with your grassroots, feel that certain parks need more patrols, you can also, working with the police, work out arrangements which will benefit park users.

Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines): Sir, while I am aware that the police force is constrained by limited human resources, would the Minister consider greater use of alternative approaches such as surveillance cameras in the more secluded places to ensure safety and to give greater comfort and confidence to the people using such secluded places?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Yes, certainly. When I said CSSP, I have cited park patrols only as one example. Other examples can be considered, such as surveillance cameras and lighting up certain areas of the park which need to be lighted up. I think that if we are proactive, more can be done. What I am saying is that certainly police takes this case in hand and the message that is being sent, and the importance of police patrols. The presence of park patrols is also important. At the same time, all of us can also do our part, as users of the park, to be mindful of possible dangers and risks and, also working with grassroots leaders on the ground, take whatever steps that can be helpful. I thank Mr Sin for this suggestion, as he himself has done in Tampines, about the use of surveillance cameras in appropriate settings.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: Would the Ministry consider setting up a DNA database of known or convicted criminals as a deterrence?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: DNA, in fact, is being used now, where appropriate, to identify or match the culprit. The Member is right in that currently we do not have a DNA database. Police is looking into the possibility of setting up such a database.

Mr Chiam See Tong rose ---

Mr Speaker: Mr Chiam, we are approaching the end of Question time.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the Minister says that the overall situation is safe, but if you look at the facts, it is not so. Rape, in fact, is on the increase. In fact, this is the second heinous crime. 1.30 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 21(3), Question Nos. 11 to 36 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 22nd February 2000.]