Smart Clubbing campaign launched as police aim to reduce crimes in clubs
“You can see, can admire but cannot touch”.
That’s the warning by local celebrity Irene Ang, a self-proclaimed “smart veteran clubber”, directed at would-be molesters in a video about “smart clubbing”.
In the five-minute clip, which was unveiled by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) at the launch of the Smart Clubbing Campaign in Zouk on Wednesday (5 September), Ang also gives tips on how to prevent your belongings from being stolen and fights from breaking out in an entertainment club.
If a “cikopek” (sleazy man) approaches and touches you, Ang advises victims not to hesitate to shout for help.
She also cautions potential molesters, “You shiok shiok for a few seconds, after that? You suffer for so many, many years.” If convicted of molest, an offender faces a maximum jail term of two years, or with a fine, or with caning, or any combination of the punishments.
The year-long campaign is part of the SPF’s efforts to promote “smart” and “safe” clubbing as it aims to reduce the number of crimes happening in clubs.
The launch comes after mid-year crime statistics recently released by the SPF showed a 3.2 per cent rise in the number of crimes reported in the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year.
Among the crimes, there was a 37 per cent increase in cases involving outrage of modesty in public entertainment outlets over the period. The SPF said that other crimes, such as theft, rioting, and causing hurt remained a concern as they tend to occur at or in the vicinity of night spots.
Eighteen public entertainment outlets, including Zouk, Bang Bang, The Pump Room, and F Club Singapore, will be participating in the campaign. These clubs will put up posters urging patrons to be responsible for their belongings and behaviour in their premises.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development Sun Xue Ling, who was Guest of Honour at the launch, noted that a higher proportion of violent cases occur in the wee hours of the morning as shown by crime statistics.
“For example, in 2017, 50% of reported serious hurt cases and 75% of rioting cases were reported to have happened between 3am and 5am,” she said.
“The public must also take personal responsibility to safeguard themselves against being a victim of crime when they are at public entertainment night spots.”
During the launch, Ang also shared her past experiences while clubbing. She recalled one incident when she nearly drank alcohol offered by a stranger which had a powdery substance in it. A friend of hers alerted her about the suspicious drink.
She said, “If you need to go to toilet or go and dance, get your friends to watch over your drinks. I think we cannot take for granted that Singapore is safe.”
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