Home Affairs Ministry to consider borrowing from
loansharks an offence
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry is
considering making borrowing from loansharks an offence in the
country.
Speaking at the annual Police Workplan seminar on Thursday, Deputy
Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng noted that
while the overall crime figure has fallen by three per cent from
January to March this year as compared to the same period in 2008,
unlicensed moneylending harassment cases for this period have
almost doubled.
It has gone up from 2,066 cases to 3,993 cases.
To step up efforts to combat this public menace, police have
recently acquired more CCTVs which will be installed at
harassment-prone sites to detect loan sharks and harassers in the
act.
Mr Wong said such CCTV footage will also aid police
investigations.
Another step would be to make borrowing from loansharks an
offence.
He said this would hold borrowers accountable if their reckless
borrowing or gambling habits endanger the safety and security of
the community.
The Home Affairs Minister revealed that from the arrests made,
police conclude that many borrowers eventually joined the loanshark
criminal organisation as runners to carry out harassment and
vandalism - hence the need to nip the problem decisively on the
bud.
Mr Wong also touched on manpower challenges being faced by the
Singapore Police Force.
He said the Ministry recognised that resources were stretched and
it has been working with police commanders and senior leaders to
address this.
The Ministry will be creating 220 new frontline staff posts at
existing Neighbourhood Police Centres.
- CNA/yb