In Parliament, Workers’ Party MP Leon Perera sought data relating to sexual assault cases involving minors under the age of 16 in the past 5 years. In particular, he sought information on the percentage of cases involving minors which are committed by family members and the support that these victims have received.
11,868 reports of sexual assault between January 2018 and November 2022
In response to Mr Perera’s question, the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam revealed that,bBetween January 2018 and November 2022, there were 11,868 reports of sexual assault. These reports include offences of rape, sexual assault by penetration, outrage of modesty, and sexual offences involving children and vulnerable victims.
The Minister provided a table which sets out a yearly breakdown of the figures.
Based on the table, there were a total of 4,577 reports of sexual assault between January 2018 and November 2022 where at least one of the victim was under the age of 16. This would amount to approximately 38.5% of reported sexual assaults. In this same period of time, 932 reports of sexual assault were lodged where the sexual offences against a minor were allegedly committed by family members or relatives.
Support provided to Victims
The Minister shared that the Singapore Police Force works with social service agencies to provide victims with counselling support and interventions during and after investigations.
If the victim consents, throughout the course of investigations, the Police can also activate volunteers under the Victim Care Cadre Programme (VCCP) to provide emotional support. Further, the Police may also refer victims of sexual assault to Care Corner Project StART, a family violence specialist centre, which provides support to victims of violence, to augment the support provided under the VCCP.
The Minister added that a Sexual Crime and Family Violence Command will be set up this year to provide more support to victims of sexual crime and family violence. The existing One-Stop Abuse Forensic Examination Centre will also have an added dedicated victim care area to enhance privacy and convenience for sexual crime victims during investigation processes.
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