More CCTVs to be installed in Little India’s Liquor Control Zone

SINGAPORE — Another 50 CCTV cameras could be installed in the Little India Liquor Control Zone (LCZ) by the end of this year, adding to the 34 that have already been put up there, said Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Monday (July 11), in a written reply to a parliamentary question.

He also said that as of end of May, more than 1,800 individuals have been caught drinking in public during restricted hours since the Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act came into effect on April 1 last year. Of these, about 230 individuals had committed the offence within the Little India LCZ.

Mr Shanmugam said that most of these individuals were issued with advisories to stop because they were first-time offenders.

In total, only 48 were repeat offenders, of which three had flouted the public alcohol drinking ban in the Little India LCZ more than once. These repeat offenders were offered composition fines.

Mr Shanmugam said that if these offenders breach the curbs again, the police will investigate their cases “with the view to prosecute and the offenders will be subject to stricter penalties”.

He was responding to questions from Member of Parliament (Tanjong Pagar GRC) Melvin Yong, who also asked how many auxiliary police officers and security officers are deployed in the Little India LCZ.

Mr Shanmugam said that during peak periods — weekend nights, eves of public holidays and public holidays, there are more than 90 such officers in the area, in addition to police officers on patrol.

The officers’ job is to deter crime and disamenities, such as urination, littering and spitting in common areas, including higher floors and staircase landings of HDB blocks where residents have complained of congregations or disamenities.