The number of young people locked in Chang prison has been a spike in their involvement in a secret society under the law, which allows arrest without trial.
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) figures show that 65 29 or younger persons were arrested in the arrest of the Criminal Code (Temporary Regulations) Act on December 31, 2024. Eight of them were 19 years old.
In 2023 and 45 in 2022 there were 46 arrested 29 years or younger.
Over three years, most of the prisoners were arrested for their involvement in a secret society.
CLTPA is used for serious crimes when prosecution is not viable, as when witnesses do not want to prove in court for fear of retaliation.
A police spokesman said that, by law, the Minister of the Interior may withhold or invest in police supervision of persons related to criminal activities, including participation in a secret society.
The law also covers crimes such as unauthorized money products, drug trafficking, abductions and organized crime.
The Minister of the Interior’s Department can be withheld for up to 12 months.
According to police, the minister must be convinced that the arrest of a person under the law is necessary due to public security, peace and good order. They added that legal powers are used carefully and sparingly.
“To combat our approach (secret society) includes the enforcement of the criminal law and the activities of the risk-youth, and CLTPA is only called the last resort,” the police spokesman said.
“CLTPA is a critical legislation to deal with the police with a blatant criminal activity that threatens the sense of security and security of Singapore, but which our typical criminal frameworks are unable to handle efficiently, especially the activities of gangs and secret societies.”
More than 1,300 suspects of illegal societies were arrested between 2022 and 2024.
December 31, 2024 SPS figures show that all age groups had 100 CLTPA -excited, including 99, behind the bars of the secret society.
According to police, people under the age of 10 were arrested by law in the last three years.
“Police followed the situation of the youth gang closely through a regular and correct implementation and also put preventive training measures to guide young people from the gang,” said the spokesman.
For those who end up in the gangs, the police said they were using a rehabilitation approach to helping their renewal by transferring movements, such as the StreetWise program.
However, for those who have committed serious criminal and secret social crimes, the police said they were dealing strictly and strictly in accordance with the law.
Police added that there were protective measures to ensure that CLTPA is used carefully. For example, the prosecutor’s consent must be obtained before the arrest order that the Minister of the Interior may give.
Each order must also be reviewed by an independent advice -brought committee, chaired by the Supreme Court judge and contains respectful members of society, such as the judges of peace and parents, the police spokesman said. – Straits Times/Ann