“The threat landscape is increasingly complex. Criminals are exploiting technology to carry out more sophisticated crimes and to hit more victims,” said Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo.
That is why the PAP government is committed to equipping the Home Team with the necessary resources to combat harm and fight crime.
Here are some new measures to keep Singapore and its people safe and secure.
Leveraging AI solutions
To stay ahead, the Home Team has been taking bold steps to leverage technology against AI-enabled crime, said Mrs Teo.
For instance, a Gen AI-powered algorithm is used to identify whether audio or video recordings are genuine. This has helped target AI-generated scams and falsified content online, added Mrs Teo.
AI and machine learning, used to detect scam websites and accounts, will be expanded to disrupt other scam enablers, such as payment channels and mobile numbers.
Next, AI models are also increasingly deployed to improve the efficiency of our Home Team officials.
The SCDF, for instance, uses a Targeted On-site Inspection Tool, which uses data to assess the likelihood of fire safety violations in commercial premises.
Meanwhile, Singapore Prisons is trialling the use of smart sensors to monitor inmates’ vital signs. The system will enable officers to respond quickly to falls and abnormal heart rates among older inmates.
Strengthening defences and punishments against scams
For several years, the government have been responding aggressively to scams, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling.
Firstly, the government will be looking at stiffer punishments for scammers. The Sentencing Advisory Panel has recently proposed significant imprisonment terms for offences facilitating scams, said Ms Sun.
In addition, the government will consider caning for certain scam-related offences due to the serious harm they can cause.
Besides working with banks to improve authentication solutions and detect money mule activity, the government have implemented more stringent laws to stop fraud at the source.
Since the start of 2025, it is now an offence to register for a SIM card and sell it for a profit. Similarly, it is also an offence to possess a large number of unregistered SIM cards for no legitimate reason. This tightening of ownership of local SIM cards is designed to suppress scam calls and SMSes.
Finally, the government will explore further measures to ensure Telegram takes online safety more seriously. Due to its anonymous nature, the app has become a cesspit of scammers. According to Ms Sun, the government will not rule out stronger legislation to ensure compliance.
Combatting drug abuse
“Drug abuse threatens public safety and impacts innocent victims,” said Minister of State for Home Affairs A/P Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.
The recent case of 4-year-old Megan comes to mind. The girl was abused by her caregivers, who were high on drugs. She eventually died from her injuries.
Currently, Singapore has one of the toughest laws in the world to curb drug supply. Therefore, a priority now is to rehabilitate drug abusers and reduce the demand for drugs.
Since January 2024, hair analysis tests have replaced urine tests in the monitoring of ex-drug abusers. This has allowed authorities to swiftly detect those who had relapsed due to the longer detection window for hair tests, said Dr Faishal.
Prisons have also started various initiatives to help inmates strengthen family relationships and equip them with digital and market-relevant work skills. When offenders can reintegrate into society successfully, they are less likely to return to drugs and crime.
Finally, the government will strengthen its network of over 1,000 DrugFreeSG Champions. They comprise educators, counsellors, youths, and healthcare workers who disseminate drug-free messages to educate our youths against the harms of drugs.
Among Western societies, trust and confidence in the police is declining. With crimes often unsolved or not investigated thoroughly due to manpower shortages, law and order are on the edge of breaking down.
Fortunately, that is not the case in Singapore.
“Overall, the Home Team has achieved good outcomes for our people. These are reflected in how Singaporeans view the Home Team positively and hold our officers in high regard,” said Mrs Teo.
Sixty years and counting, Singaporeans can rest assured that the PAP government will continue to keep this little red dot safe and secure in the years ahead.
