There had been reports that the acts of violence are seemingly on the rise in Singapore basing on increasing news reports on violent act on innocent by-standers. It seems that these crimes started to increase steadily over time and now it’s like a common occurrence in the news.

The issue lies in the distinction made between seizable and non-seizable offences under the law.

If a crime is considered under the Criminal Procedure Code to be ‘seizable’, the police can arrest the suspect immediately without needing a warrant.

But if it’s not, then it is up to the victim to seek his own redress. He can complain to a magistrate who can then instruct the police to investigate, take up a private prosecution, or file a civil suit for damages.

A senior police officer of the rank of assistant superintendent or above can also authorise a full investigation into a non-seizable offence but without the powers of arrest.

The list of seizable and non-seizable offences has been in place since Singapore’s laws were set after independence and has generally remained unchanged.

The following news articles clearly shown the situations are being exploited because of this law since 26 May 2007.

26 May 2007 – Should police be given more powers to handle cases of assault?
31 Oct 2007 – 3 women jailed for fatal Clarke Quay attack
20 Dec 2007 – Man punched, slammed by drunk US sailor
03 Jan 2008 – Teen attacks bus captain and then tries to flee
29 Jan 2008 – Bouncers kick, punch fallen expat outside bar
03 Feb 2008 – Will police act if you’re punched? It’s not so simple
13 Feb 2008 - 26-year-old former logistics assistant got attacked by “gangs”.
07 Mar 2008 – Knife-wielding suspect shot dead at MRT station
09 Apr 2008 – Flashing headlights spark road rage
21 Apr 2008 – 77-year-old was punched for driving too slowly
29 Apr 2008 – Dow Jones journalist fined $1,000 for punching cabby
30 Apr 2008 – Man attacked wife, maid and jumped to his death
22 May 2008 – 58-year-old SMRT bus driver got bashed up at interchange.
22 May 2008 – Delivery man’s head is slashed by parang (Long knife)

There should be many more unreported violence happenings during these period and the attacker gets away Scott-free and gain more confidence to do it again…and again. This does encourage more people to do the same without any redress to the current law.

Well, we does not want a police state where the police exercise their power to arrest everyone without warrant and reduce our human rights. The problems comes with lacking the sense of security in public area and the criminals ability to exploit this to cause serious physical and most important of all mental stressed to their victims.

Let’s take gangsters for examples, they can threaten you and beat you up and go free without serious charges against them. This will encourage more violence due to gang related tussles and turf fights.

My suggestions will be the following.

1. Increase more high quality CCTV (with night visions & recorded video storage up to 5 years) in public places (esp. bars).
2. Make a video glasses that everyone can wear and record everything without being noticed and can transmit this video via the internet to the police or convert to smaller file and store in memory stick for references and if the police refuse to arrest the person then shame the person online via you tube or other online media distribution.
3. Set up a community defense group where more people are trained to identify and describe perpetrator, willing to testify and stand trial for the victim.
4. Avoid any family arguments
5. Avoid seedy dark places
6. Avoid reputable gangster hang outs
7. Avoid people with obvious affiliation with violence (tattoo, scars)

The other solutions is individual protection such as to learn self defense techniques, wear a protective armor (kidding), bring a whistle (serious…loud noise scares people), bring a big umbrella and other then that if the law helps the attacker to beat you senseless then maybe you can use the same law to beat that guy senseless? (kidding)

Seriously the law should change to give slightly more power to the police to at least give the guy a warning or something. Just keep out of harms way friends! Hopefully one day Singapore won’t degenerate into a chaotic city!!

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