Shop theft, cheating among top youth offences in 2023

Act amended to allow cases of those aged 16 to below 18 to be heard in Youth Courts

- Shermaine Ang

The top three offences committed by young people here in 2023 were shop theft, cheating-related offences, and sexual offences involving penetration.

A total of 509 young offenders between the ages of 10 and below 21 committed shop theft, and 422 people in the same age group engaged in cheating-related offences, the majority of which were associated with scams and cybercrime.

There were 250 young people who committed sexual offences involving penetration.

These trends were captured in the Ministry of Social and Family Development's (MSF) first Supporting Youth Rehabilitation Trends Report released on Nov 8.

The report provides an overview of the key youth rehabilitation and offending trends from 2019 to 2023.

Those aged 16 to below 18 had the highest likelihood of offending, compared with older youth aged 18 to below 21 or those in the younger range, from 10 to below 16.

To support this group, the Children and Young Persons Act was amended to allow cases involving older youth offenders aged 16 to below 18 to be heard in the Youth Courts.

The change will take effect from Jan 1, 2025, said MSF on Nov 8.

Currently, the Youth Courts hear only cases involving young offenders below 16. Those aged 16 and above are tried as adults in the State Courts or Community Court, unless they are diverted away from the criminal justice system.