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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Police advise on handling violence in public
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the letter, "Wanted: Advice from police on handling violence in public", published on Forum Online on Sept 28.
Members of the public are advised to report the matter to the police immediately via "999" if they should witness any acts of violence.
When reporting such matters to the police, members of the public can assist by providing details of the incident, as well as descriptions of the persons involved - for example, distinguishing features, colour and type of clothing worn, mannerisms, and so on. Members of the public should also be mindful of their personal safety and are generally advised not to confront the aggressors on their own.
Police actions in such cases will have to be in accordance with the law. Where an offence is seizable, the police are legally empowered to arrest without a warrant.
The offence of Voluntarily Causing Hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code is designated as a non-seizable offence, because there is a wide range of behaviour which can constitute this offence with varying degrees of severity.
For non-seizable cases without aggravating factors, the complainant will be advised to lodge a complaint before a magistrate, who has the power to direct further action.
However, for non-seizable cases with aggravating factors such as clear harm to public interest or where vulnerable victims such as children and elderly persons are involved, the police will not hesitate to take action against the perpetrator.
DSP Paul Tay
Assistant Director, Media Relations
Public Affairs Department
Singapore Police Force
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to the letter, "Wanted: Advice from police on handling violence in public", published on Forum Online on Sept 28.
Members of the public are advised to report the matter to the police immediately via "999" if they should witness any acts of violence.
When reporting such matters to the police, members of the public can assist by providing details of the incident, as well as descriptions of the persons involved - for example, distinguishing features, colour and type of clothing worn, mannerisms, and so on. Members of the public should also be mindful of their personal safety and are generally advised not to confront the aggressors on their own.
Police actions in such cases will have to be in accordance with the law. Where an offence is seizable, the police are legally empowered to arrest without a warrant.
The offence of Voluntarily Causing Hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code is designated as a non-seizable offence, because there is a wide range of behaviour which can constitute this offence with varying degrees of severity.
For non-seizable cases without aggravating factors, the complainant will be advised to lodge a complaint before a magistrate, who has the power to direct further action.
However, for non-seizable cases with aggravating factors such as clear harm to public interest or where vulnerable victims such as children and elderly persons are involved, the police will not hesitate to take action against the perpetrator.
DSP Paul Tay
Assistant Director, Media Relations
Public Affairs Department
Singapore Police Force
