Harsher Penalties for Causing Public Nuisance and Victimising Vulnerable Persons
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Er Dr Lee Bee Wah’s inquiry on reviewing public nuisance penalties, raising fines, and introducing community service for those victimising vulnerable persons. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam responded that public nuisance offences currently carry a maximum $1,000 fine and typically involve general acts causing public annoyance or obstruction. He explained that the Penal Code already provides for harsher punishments, including imprisonment and community orders, for more serious offences involving hurt or criminal force. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam also stated that Courts consider the presence of vulnerable victims, such as the elderly or children, when determining sentences. Consequently, there is no need to review these penalties as existing laws already address serious acts and allow for appropriate sentencing.
Transcript
31 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry will consider reviewing the penalties for causing public nuisance and introduce heftier punishments for those who victimise vulnerable persons, such as seniors, children and disabled persons; and (b) whether the Ministry will raise the fines for public nuisance offences and include community service as part of the punishment.
Mr K Shanmugam: Public nuisance offences typically involve acts that cause danger or annoyance to the public, obstruction to traffic in a public place, or disturbance of the public peace. Examples include intoxicated persons shouting vulgarities in public to the annoyance of the public, or minor scuffles. These acts may not necessarily have specific victims, but cause public nuisance more generally. Public nuisance carries a maximum penalty of $1,000 fine.
In instances where hurt is caused or criminal force is used, the Penal Code prescribes harsher punishments. These are more serious offences, and imprisonment terms and community orders can be imposed. Where there are vulnerable victims such as children and the elderly, our Courts will take this into consideration in the sentencing of offenders.
There is, therefore, no need to review the penalties for public nuisance. Depending on the circumstances of each case, offenders who commit more serious acts can be subjected to harsher punishments under different offences. The offenders can also be subjected to community orders where appropriate.