OSAC - Singapore 2008 Crime & Safety Report

U.S. Embassy Singapore assesses the overall level of crime in Singapore as low. Complete crime statistics for 2007 will be published in the first quarter of 2008, and the embassy will report any significant changes when the information becomes available from Singapore Police Force (SPF) authorities.

Available crime statistics for the first half of 2007 show a decrease in housebreaking and robbery. Murder cases reported for the first half of the year declined to six in this city-state of 4.5 million people, compared to twelve cases reported for the same period in 2006. The Regional Security Officer (RSO) estimates the current number of murders at the end of 2007 to be approximately eight. All murder cases for the period have been solved. Reported incidents of rape increased for this period to 70 cases, compared to 53 cases during the same period in 2006. Motor vehicle theft and snatch theft incidents increased 25 percent during the first half of 2007. Housebreaking incidents for the first half of 2007 declined ten percent. The “outraging of Modesty,” a Singaporean crime pertaining to unwanted sexual touching, is reported to have increased a negligible amount.

American and Singaporean authorities continue to receive complaints from small businesses victimized by fraud perpetrators using Singapore as a transshipment point for criminal enterprises elsewhere in the region. Small American businesses shipping goods to customers located in Singapore should be aware that thieves may use fraudulent credit card information and Singaporean addresses to defraud a business of payment-for-goods by arranging a transshipment of the goods to points outside of Singapore. Some freight forwarding companies in Singapore may need to better scrutinize all requests to re-label U.S. express air shipments with orders for transshipment to Indonesia and other points outside of Singapore. Although a shipment’s ultimate destination may not be readily apparent, businesses should thoroughly research all buyers using a shipping address in Singapore to ensure the buyer possesses a functioning business located in Singapore. The SPF Commercial Affairs Department investigates credit card fraud in Singapore.

Cell phones have in the past been the primary target for robbers and snatch thieves, but the SPF believes cell phone-related crimes have dropped due to increased public education and stricter enforcement against second-hand cell phone dealers who break laws or regulations. Additionally, SPF has implemented an online database of the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of stolen cell phones for easy screening by purchasers.

Trends in Singapore show that most cases of theft at residential units and hotels involve perpetrators who gain entry through unsecured windows or doors. The trend of targeting elderly citizens in elevators and public housing complexes also continues. These crimes are primarily snatch and grab thefts; however, in some cases the victims have been injured after being pushed down.

A few incidents of serious crime involved attacks on Singaporeans by fellow Singaporeans with knives or other edged weapons. Most of the incidents involving attacks with edged weapons appeared to involve young adults in and around some of Singapore’s nightclubs. These attacks appear to be linked to low-level criminal activities. Because firearms are unavailable and strictly controlled, edged-weapons are the weapons of choice for serious attackers in Singapore.

Comparatively speaking, the crime rate in Singapore remains much lower than in most other major cities around the world; however, residents and visitors should be aware of their environment and exercise the same amount of caution they would in any other large city.

Singapore remains relatively free from civil unrest, political instability, and credible terrorism threats. The Government of Singapore (GOS) frequently cautions its citizens that while the Jemaah Islamiyah cell has been severely disrupted within Singapore, it has by no means been eradicated. During 2007 the Singaporean press reported that Singaporean authorities detained several Singaporeans for supporting Islamic extremist activities. It was reported that one of the detainees was a well educated, former Singaporean professional, who became a self-radicalized militant through accessing Islamist websites on the Internet.

Several Singaporean press articles stated that home-grown, self-radicalized terrorists may become a security issue for Singapore in the future. This reporting regarding the detention of several Singaporean extremists has been the most recent reporting of individual Singaporeans’ support for extremist activities since the disruption of the Jemaah Islamiyah cell in 2001.

Prudent measures should continue to be taken by businesses, schools, churches, and other soft targets where Americans assemble. Travelers should be vigilant when using public transportation such as buses, subways, trains, planes, and ferries. Singaporean officials frequently emphasize the importance of community involvement and preparedness as critical elements in national security, as well as the importance of effectively fighting terrorism.

In 2005, the GOS provided counterterrorist briefings to over 40,000 registered taxi drivers, encouraging the drivers to report suspicious activities, passengers, and conversations in their cabs. Early on a Sunday morning in January 2006, the GOS conducted an unannounced civil emergency exercise based on the terrorist attacks on public transportation networks in London and Madrid. Police encourage and utilize neighborhood policing efforts such as neighborhood watches and business-based cooperatives to detect and report crime. Additionally, the SPF utilizes random tactical foot patrols from the Special Operations Command to deter, detect, and prevent violent attacks.

In theory, permits to assemble lawfully may be granted; however, in practice Singapore does not issue permits for any potential demonstrations, regardless of nature. In addition, it is against the law for five or more people to congregate for such purposes.

Singapore has not recently experienced natural disasters such as typhoons, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Visitors to Singapore should be knowledgeable with regard to the severe penalties for narcotics trafficking – up to and including the death penalty. Despite these laws, drugs can be found in Singapore, and young people frequenting nightclubs should be particularly vigilant and remain aware of their surroundings. Incidents of individuals unknowingly ingesting a drug placed in a drink occasionally occur, and visitors should again exercise the same amount of caution as they would in any major U.S. city.

The police are consistently professional and any report involving a crime incident will be handled in accordance with the prescribed regulations. Police harassment is not a problem in Singapore, and assistance can be readily obtained by dialing the standard emergency number, 999. Every district within Singapore has a dedicated neighborhood police center, and any neighborhood police center will accept the filing of a police report, not just the district where the crime took place.

Companies posting personnel in Singapore should conduct security and cultural awareness training for the employee and all family members. Rude and disorderly behavior, particularly directed against women, is prohibited. The offense for inappropriate behavior toward women is called “outrage of Modesty,” and it is often strictly enforced. This law is used to protect men from inappropriate behavior as well.

Medical services in Singapore are on par with those of the United States and other “first world” capitals. Singapore is a U.S. Government regional medical evacuation (Medevac) destination. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) highly lauded Singapore’s medical community during the SARS crisis for their honest reporting and heroic efforts in containing the virus. As a result, Singapore was removed relatively early from the CDC’s list of countries to avoid. Singapore’s plan for dealing with the current threat of Avian Influenza is considered among the best in the world by the World Health Organization. Singapore actively monitors the situation and has enacted a disease surveillance system to detect any human cases of Avian Influenza imported into Singapore. Additionally, Singapore has precautionary measures in place to ensure that no infected birds are imported into Singapore. It also has a contingency plan to deal with any outbreak of Avian Influenza in any of Singapore’s poultry farms.

Visitors should take normal big city precautions for their personal safety and security. Avoid carrying excess cash and credit cards and use credit cards only at reputable establishments. After using a credit card, check your receipts to assure that the proper charges have been made and compare those receipts with your monthly statement. Always remain alert in crowded public areas like hotel lobbies, subway stations, shopping centers and tourist areas where many pick pocket and other common petty crimes occur. While staying in hotels, always use the hotel safe deposit box or in-room safe for your valuables and never leave personal and/or financial information unattended. Heed all warnings with regard to soft targets and potential terrorist threats. Know how to contact local emergency services for police, fire and medical. For fire safety, upon check-in at a hotel, immediately learn the emergency escape routes and physically walk from your room out of the building. You should never wait until an actual emergency to try and put together a plan. Finally, if you become victim of a crime, file a police report. The police must know that a crime occurred in order to be more responsive to future problems.

U.S. Embassy Singapore has an OSAC Country Council, which operates as a separate entity under the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) organization due to difficulties incorporating such organizations in Singapore. For specific information, contact the RSO at the embassy. Tel: (65) 6476-9453, fax: (65) 6476 - 9040. Also, please visit U.S. Embassy Singapore’s homepage cited below. One of the best sources for overseas security information is the OSAC website. Travel advisories, country background notes, and links to other U.S. government travel and security services are also available on the Internet.

U.S. Embassy Singapore switchboard: (65) 6476- 9100
Singapore Police emergency operator: 999
Singapore fire and medical emergency: 995
Orchard Neighborhood Police Centre, 51 Killiney Road, Singapore 239572
-orchard Road shopping district 1 800 735-9999 (toll free)
Central Police Division Headquarters:
-Central business district 1 800 224-0000 (toll free)

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