However, low crime does not mean no crime, as the popular catch phrase in Singapore goes. 2019 saw an increase in the rate of crimes committed, due in large part to the increase in crimes involving fraud and scams. The prevalence of such crimes have led the Singapore Police Force to highlight scams as the crime of concern, especially given the size of the losses incurred by such swindles. In 2019, e-commerce scams were the most reported type of such crimes. With the growing prevalence and popularity of e-commerce in Singapore, this type of crime would most likely increase in the coming years. Economic and financial crimes were also reported to be on the rise in businesses and organizations in Singapore.
Singapore is able to keep its crime rate low by enforcing strict laws and imposing harsh penalties on those who break the law, as well as having a sophisticated system of surveillance. From the high fines for littering to the use of capital punishment for crimes such as drug trafficking and homicide, such measures act as an effective deterrent to would-be transgressors. Despite the criticisms from various human rights organizations, Singapore executed four people in 2019 for the crimes of drug trafficking and murder. The harsh penalties imposed on crimes related to drug abuse is apparent when looking at the Singapore prison population: in 2019, more than two-thirds of inmates were in prison for drug offences.
