The first of 2 Parliamentary Questions I submitted for this month’s Sitting - on behalf of offenders with disabilities, especially those with less than full mental capacity:

ENSURING SMOOTH AND FAIR POLICE INVESTIGATION PROCESS FOR ALLEGED OFFENDERS WITH DISABILITIES AND MENTAL CHALLENGES

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for Home Affairs in dealing with alleged offenders with disabilities, especially those with less than full mental capacity (a) what challenges does the Police face in ensuring smooth and fair investigation; (b) what are the selection criteria for the volunteers in the Appropriate Adult Scheme; (c) how are their suitability and competencies assessed; and (d) what proactive communication efforts are made with families, schools and charities associated with these alleged offenders to assure them of the support that will be provided.

Mr K Shanmugam: Police Investigation Officers (IOs) do look out for signs of mental disability. The Police have also worked with the Agency for Integrated Care to increase officers’ awareness of mental health conditions and develop their ability to interact with persons with such conditions.

Under the Appropriate Adult Scheme for persons with mental disabilities, IOs can activate Appropriate Adults (AA) to provide emotional support to such persons during law enforcement interviews and facilitate communication with the IOs.

Individuals aged 21 and above, who are patient, level-headed and capable of sound reasoning, can sign up to be an AA.

Individuals who sign up to be an AA have to undergo a one-day training conducted by Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), before they can be onboarded as an AA. They will be trained to recognise signs of distress and to communicate with persons with mental disabilities during law enforcement interviews. The training also allows the trainers to observe the individuals’ suitability. Any concerns will be looked into prior to onboarding.

Even after confirmation as an AA, IOs will provide feedback to the service provider on the competency and performance of the AA as necessary.

Under the Home Team Community Assistance and Referral Scheme, the Police will refer alleged offenders with mental disabilities to social workers, for assessment and onward referral to relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development and social service agencies, where required.

If the alleged offenders are studying in schools under the Ministry of Education, the Police will also notify both their parents (or guardians) and the schools, so that they may be better supported during the investigations.