Eight men, aged between 25 and 57, will be charged in Court on 23 October 2017 for eight separate cases of Outrage of Modesty, committed between January and July 2017. Five of these cases occurred at public entertainment outlets or on public transport.
Between January and September 2017, there were 1,168 reported cases of Outrage of Modesty, an increase of 194 cases (or 19.9%) compared to the same period last year. 152 of these cases were reported on public transport, while 76 of these cases were reported at public entertainment outlets, an increase of 50 cases (or 49.0%) and 15 cases (or 24.6%) respectively, compared to the same period last year.
To prevent Outrage of Modesty cases from happening in public entertainment outlets, the Police have worked with operators on additional security measures such as the installation of closed-circuit televisions. In addition, the operators are required to prevent overcrowding and ensure sufficient lighting within their premises.
Patrols are conducted in public transport areas by officers from the Public Transport Security Command to project Police presence and deter Outrage of Modesty cases. In addition, the Police also actively disseminate crime prevention advice to commuters and these are done through posters, videos and crime prevention roadshows in areas such as trains, train stations and bus interchanges.
Members of the public are advised to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
- Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert to any suspicious person(s).
- Avoid walking through dimly-lit and secluded places or taking the lift with a stranger.
- Have someone escort you home when returning alone late at night.
- Carry along with you a shrill alarm.
When patronizing public entertainment outlets or taking public transport:
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Be alert and attentive to your surroundings. Where possible, move away if someone stands or sits exceptionally close to you.
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If you are molested, seek help immediately from those around you. Take note of the prominent features and attire of the suspect as well as the direction in which he or she went. Call ‘999’ as soon as possible to increase the chances of apprehending the suspect early. If it is safe to do so, the victim or other witnesses of the crime may assist to detain the suspect while waiting for the Police to arrive.
Anyone convicted for the offence of Outrage of Modesty under Section 354(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 224 shall be punished with an imprisonment term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with caning, or with any combination of such punishments.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
22 October 2017 @ 9:45 AM