The Police, together with Singapore Tourism Board (“STB”), Urban Redevelopment Authority (“URA”), Enterprise Singapore (“Enterprise SG”), Singapore Food Agency (“SFA”), Singapore Land Authority (“SLA”) and Sentosa Development Corporation (“SDC”), conducted island-wide enforcement checks on 406 public entertainment outlets between 19 April 2022 and 26 April 2022 to ensure a safe resumption of nightlife businesses in Singapore.
During these operations, 14 licensed and unlicensed public entertainment and nightlife outlets were found to have committed various breaches under the Public Entertainments Act 1958, the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 and the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Reopening – Control Order) Regulations 2022. Two of the outlets have been issued with closure orders for breach of safe management measures (SMMs) and are also liable for composition fines or prosecution for non-compliance with SMM, which include failing to implement a system of checks to verify a customer’s vaccination status before permitting entry and failing to minimize physical interactions between customers and staff. In total, 23 persons have been issued composition fines for non-compliance with SMMs.
In addition, the Police are investigating 27 persons, comprising operators, staff and patrons of these establishments, for various offences which purportedly include providing public entertainment without a valid licence under the Public Entertainments Act 1958, being a member of an unlawful society under the Societies Act 1966, causing annoyance whilst drunk under the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 2015 and unlawful remote gambling under the Remote Gambling Act 2014.
In particular, the Police detected an outlet located along Middle Road, which was allegedly operating as a bar despite being granted planning permission to only operate as a restaurant. The outlet’s operator will be investigated for purportedly providing public entertainment without a valid licence under the Public Entertainments Act 1958. A pair of headphones, a mixer console, a disc jockey controller, and other audio equipment used to play recorded music were seized. The outlet’s operator was also purportedly found to have supplied liquor outside of its licensed premises and had failed to implement a system of checks to verify a customer’s vaccination status before permitting entry. For the latter offence, and in view of previous SMM breaches by the operator, the outlet has been served with a 30-day closure order and is liable for prosecution as well.
The offences of supplying liquor without a valid licence and providing public entertainment without a valid licence each carry a fine of up to $20,000, while the offence of supplying liquor outside of licensed premises carries a fine not exceeding $10,000. For non-compliance with safe distancing measures under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Reopening – Control Order) Regulations 2022, individuals found guilty may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to $10,000, or both.
For the upcoming weekend and public holidays, the Police and various agencies will continue to carry out enforcement operations at public entertainment outlets to suppress illicit activities. Notwithstanding the recent easing of COVID-19 measures, members of the public and businesses are advised to continue to take the prevailing SMMs seriously. The Police have zero tolerance for irresponsible behavior relating to the flouting of these measures and offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.
Enforcement checks on public entertainment outlet along middle road
Audio equipment seized
Audio equipment set-up within the outlet
Liquor and mixers observed to be served within the outlet
SMM breaches detected at public entertainment outlets
Failure to maintain 1m safe distance between seats
Public entertainment outlets checked island-wide
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
29 April 2022 @ 11:34 PM