Makeshift Brothels in Heartland Areas like Punggol and Woodlands
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the enforcement actions and investigations into makeshift brothels located in heartland areas such as Punggol and Woodlands, raised by Mr Christopher de Souza. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam stated that the Police conduct regular anti-vice operations, leading to arrests in Woodlands Town Garden and Punggol Waterway Park, while collaborating with agencies to improve lighting and surveillance. He noted that investigations from January 2014 to December 2015 found no evidence of human trafficking at these sites, as the foreign sex workers involved had entered the trade voluntarily. Furthermore, the Police have established a dedicated team of specialist officers to investigate sex trafficking, ensuring that frontline staff are trained to identify and assist potential victims. Suspected trafficking victims are referred to shelters and provided with appropriate assistance as part of the Government’s comprehensive case management approach.
Transcript
12 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what steps are being taken by the Police to deal with makeshift brothels being set up in secluded areas within heartland areas like Punggol and Woodlands; and (b) whether investigations have been undertaken to determine whether there have been any women or girls who are victims of human trafficking at such locations.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Police conduct enforcement operations regularly to deter and detect such activities.
Over the past year, the Police have conducted anti-vice operations in several places, including around heartland parks in Woodlands and Punggol. Two sex workers were arrested at Woodlands Town Garden in October 2015 and 21 persons, comprising 13 men and eight sex workers, were arrested at Punggol Waterway Park in November 2015.
Besides enforcement, the Police also work with grassroots leaders and other Government agencies, such as the Singapore Land Authority, to deter persons from entering forested areas to conduct such activities. These measures include improving lighting conditions, installing closed-circuit television cameras and enhancing patrols and enforcement checks in the area.
For the two-year period from January 2014 to December 2015, Police's investigations involving the sex workers arrested at makeshift brothels did not reveal any evidence of trafficking in persons (TIP) offences. These foreign sex workers are recruited by operators in their home countries and come to Singapore to engage in this work voluntarily.
The Police have set up a dedicated team of specialist officers to investigate sex trafficking cases.
Besides the Police, frontline officers and support staff from other relevant Government agencies have been trained on the procedures and case management approach for TIP cases. Suspected TIP victims will be referred to shelters and given appropriate assistance.