More than 460 young people aged 19 and below were arrested for sexual crimes in Singapore in 2024, with sexual penetration of minors being the most common offence, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
This figure is similar to 2023, which saw over 470 youth arrests for sexual offences – a 30 per cent increase from 2022.
In most cases, the victims knew their perpetrators, the MHA reported.
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Pornography Exposure Linked to Youth Sexual Offences
The MHA identified early exposure to pornography as a significant factor behind youth committing sexual offences.
A case highlighted by authorities involved a 17-year-old boy who filmed female classmates without consent. The youth had been watching pornography since age 11, which led him to objectify girls.
“He was re-enacting what he had been repeatedly exposed to online, as no one had spoken to him meaningfully about boundaries, consent or respect,” said Gopal Mahey, a senior counsellor at the Centre for Psychotherapy, when contacted by The Straits Times.
Another case from 2022 involved a 14-year-old boy arrested for criminal trespassing and voyeurism after filming female classmates without consent.
His counsellor revealed he had watched online pornography daily for three years and believed such interactions between men and women were normal.
“Youth today grow up immersed in a digital culture where pornography is easily accessible, often degrading and rarely reflecting mutual respect or consent,” Mahey explained.
Other Contributing Factors
Beyond pornography exposure, the MHA noted several other factors contributing to youth sexual offences:
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Inappropriate and inaccurate understanding of sex
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Dysfunctional family dynamics
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History of abuse
Government Response
To address these issues, the MHA and Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced two resource guides in November 2024:
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“DetACT Early” – provides guidelines for early intervention
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“Discern Online Sexual Harms” – helps educators and counsellors manage the effects of online pornography exposure
These initiatives aim to help professionals identify and manage inappropriate sexual behaviours in children and teenagers.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) also held its third Sexual Crime Awareness Seminar on 15 April 2024, attended by Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for the Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development.
With youth sexual offences on the rise, both the MHA and counselling experts stress the importance of early education, guidance, and intervention to help young people develop healthy relationships and avoid harmful behaviours.
Here’s what NCMPs are, and what to expect after GE2025:
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