Worrying rise in molestation cases on public transport

SINGAPORE — More molesters are striking on buses and trains — and the number of such attacks is growing at a worrying rate.

Police statistics show there were 42 cases of outrage of modesty on public transport in the first three months of this year, one-third more than the 29 in the same period last year. Last year, there were 156 such cases, up from the 154 in 2012 and 114 in 2011.

Notably, cases of molestation on public transport comprise an increasing ratio of all outrage of modesty cases — growing at an average of 1 percentage point every year since 2011. That year, it made up 0.8 per cent of all molestation cases. This figure rose to 10.8 per cent in 2012 and 11.8 per cent last year.

The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) suggested that the increase could be due to more victims being willing to go to the police.

AWARE programmes and communications senior manager Jolene Tan noted that the police’s education efforts have focused on getting victims to report such attacks, but society must offer other sources of support to those who choose not to lodge a police report.

“We must recognise that there is no one correct response from a victim, and demonstrate support and concern for their well-being,” said Ms Tan.

Commuters TODAY spoke to felt the increase in such cases could be due to the more crowded buses and trains.

A tertiary student who wanted to be known only as Ms Goh said she was groped on the buttocks on the train earlier this year during peak hours.

“It happened too fast and I couldn’t make a report because it was very hard to see who it was, as it was crowded,” said the 19-year-old. “I was angry because it’s like I got taken advantage of so easily.”

Parents said they have asked their children to be more cautious when taking public transport.

Mdm Lucy Ng, who has two daughters aged 20 and 24, said she would advise them to avoid sitting at the back of a bus or the upper deck of a double-decker bus if it is empty.

“If some guy boards the bus and does something to them, they can’t ask for help immediately,” said the 50-year-old housewife. “The CCTV might capture everything, but it might be too late if he runs off.”

When contacted, SMRT director for media marketing and communications Alina Boey said passengers are advised to alert its staff immediately if they are victims or witness such cases.

They can also activate the emergency communication button within train cabins to alert train captains about such incidents, she added, and staff at the next station will be notified to render assistance.

SBS Transit had previously said its standard procedures include stopping the bus at a safe location and closing the doors to prevent the suspect from escaping.

The police urged the public to take the necessary preventive measures, such as staying vigilant towards their surroundings and against those who may take the opportunity to strike.

It added that the Public Transport Security Command conducts regular patrols at the train networks and bus interchanges, and that more public education messages have been put up.

The police also encouraged victims not to remain silent and to expose culprits at the earliest opportunity, to ensure that the culprit is caught and to save others from being victimised.