Question
Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar
MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC
To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development in the last five years (a) how many cases of child abuse and elder abuse respectively have been reported annually; (b) what are the common types of abuse inflicted on these children and elderly victims; and (c) what are the common types of familial relationship the perpetrators have with the victims.
Answer
1 In the last five years, MSF's Child Protective Service has investigated an average of about 600 child abuse cases annually. Since the Adult Protective Service was set up in 2015, MSF has investigated an average of 78 cases annually involving elders above the age of 65.
2 The majority of both our child and elder abuse cases involve physical abuse or neglect. Close to 90 per cent of perpetrators in child abuse cases investigated by MSF are family members involving a parent or step-parent. For elder abuse, 80 per cent of perpetrators are the victims' family members including children and spouses.
3 MSF will continue to work closely with families and community partners to keep individuals safe. The Vulnerable Adults Act, which came into effect on 19 December 2018, provides an additional lever to protect vulnerable adults when families and community partners are unable to do so.