Adequacy of Mechanism under Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response to Detect Abuse of Young Children

Dr Neo Kok Beng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in the case of the fatal abuse of an 8-month-old infant in September 2024 (a) whether Sensemaking Alerts for Frontline Engagement and Response (SAFER) is able to detect such cases; and (b) if not, what measures will be implemented to prevent such cases.

Answer:

            SAFER brings together relevant information from different agencies, starting with the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Singapore Police Force and MSF. The case would not have generated a SAFER alert based on the information available at the time.

2.          MSF will continue to enhance SAFER’s capabilities by incorporating relevant information from other Government agencies to better support the professionals in identifying child protection needs of the family and providing the right level of support earlier. No child protection system can uncover every concealment or misrepresentation, or detect every case of child abuse in time.