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Singapore remains open to considering chemical castration as a measure to tackle sex crimes if there is clear evidence that it is effective in reducing crime, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has said.
However, the evidence so far was inconclusive, he said in a written parliamentary reply on Tuesday.
“We remain open to considering measures including pharmacological anti-androgen treatments, also known as chemical castrations, if it is clear that such measures are effective in bringing down crime rates. So far, the evidence is not conclusive on that,” Shanmugam said.
Shanmugam, who is also the coordinating minister for national security, was responding to a question from Member of Parliament Gerald Giam on whether the Ministry of Home Affairs had evaluated such treatments or a sex offender register as additional measures to deter crime and reduce reoffending.
Giam also asked whether statutory penalties for major sexual offences against children and young people would be reviewed in light of recent increases in reported cases.
In response, Shanmugam said the government took a serious view of sexual crimes and imposed stiff penalties, particularly when the victims were minors.

Rape, or penetrative sexual assault, involving a minor under the age of 14 without consent carries a mandatory jail term of at least eight years and up to 20 years, with a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane.
Outrage of modesty against a minor under the age of 14 is punishable with up to five years’ jail, fine and caning.
If the minor is hurt or restrained during the offence, the offender faces a mandatory minimum jail term of three years, which may extend up to 10 years, and mandatory caning.
“These are heavy penalties, which send a strong signal to deter such offences,” he said.
Shanmugam also pointed to legislative amendments over the years, including the Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection (SEPP), which commenced on July 31.
Under the SEPP, offenders who have committed serious violent or sexual offences and who pose a substantial risk of reoffending will be detained for a minimum term of between five and 20 years, as determined by the court, and will only be released if the Minister for Home Affairs assesses that person no longer poses a threat to the public.
Responding directly to Giam’s question of a sex offender register, Shanmugam said police already maintained a non-public record of people convicted of serious offences, including sexual offences.
The records are shared with selected agencies, including the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Education, when screening people who apply for roles involving sustained contact with children and young people.
“This approach balances the need to safeguard our children and the rehabilitation and reintegration efforts of ex-offenders,” Shanmugam said.
He added that the government had been considering expanding such screening to cover more types of roles involving contact with children and young people.
This included considering whether voluntary screening could be introduced for unregulated sectors, Shanmugam said, adding that the government would share more details when ready.
This story was first published by CNA


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Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam says the evidence on whether such measures are effective in reducing crime rates is so far ‘inconclusive’


Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam says the evidence on whether such measures are effective in reducing crime rates is so far ‘inconclusive’.


Crime

Sexual harassment and assault

Singapore ‘open’ to using chemical castration for sex offenders if proven effective

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam says the evidence on whether such measures are effective in reducing crime rates is so far ‘inconclusive’

Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam says the evidence on whether such measures are effective in reducing crime rates is so far ‘inconclusive’