Abstract
Introduction: Singapore is a first-world country, protected by an advanced police force, competent in investigating crime against human citizens. Little is known about crime against animals and what Singapore does in these instances. Methods: This research considered data from reports of various animal crime that occurred in 2016 as recorded by the three animal welfare organizations appointed to investigate crimes against animals (AVS, SPCA and ACRES). Details of the cases collected were sorted using eight parameters: date, location, perpetrator, victim, type of crime or complaint, case outcome, organization, and punishment. The type of crime or complaint were divided into the categories: abandoned, allowed to roam, barking animal, caged, poor conditions, sick and untreated, physically abused, poisoned, deceased, taken from the wild, illegal possession, illegal sale, smuggling, and licencing. Results: In 2016, a total of 831 cases committed by 839 perpetrators were reported, for a total of 2357 minimum number of animals involved, comprehensive of animal parts and items made from animals. The largest proportion of the cases occurred against domestic animals and in housing districts. Despite these high numbers, only perpetrators in 11 cases were charged with fines and/or imprisonment time. Conclusions: This research paints, for the first time, a picture of what animal crime looks in the Singaporean society. Results are of pivotal importance to identify criminal hot spots, most common type of crimes, and animal categories that are most often victimised, aiming to facilitate the work of the organizations involved in investigating animal-related crime in Singapore.
Highlights
Singapore is a first-world country, protected by an advanced police force, competent in investigating crime against human citizens
Data detailing the complaints and reports of animal crime, cruelty, and welfare issues within January and December 2016 were collected from the three animal welfare and conservation organizations in Singapore – AVS, SPCA, and Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES)
ACRES, instead, was more involved in the investigation of illegal sale cases, followed by cases in which animals were found in illegal possession, and animals were taken from the wild (Figure 7)
Summary
Forensic crime scene investigation involves the use of different disciplines of scientific fields applied to law to process a crime scene in order to help determine the outcome of a court case [1]. The SPCA is a shelter that fosters lost and during disasters in other countries [11] While these found pets until their owners claim them, as well as forensic techniques have been advanced for the use of abused, abandoned animals, where members of the human-related crime, not much is known about how public can adopt them. The AVS manages six main regulatory programmes and operations, one of which is the Animal Management Group that takes charge of animal welfare and management It responds to animalrelated issues, oversees pet licensing and investigates into animal crime, enforcing the laws. Data detailing the complaints and reports of animal crime, cruelty, and welfare issues within January and December 2016 were collected from the three animal welfare and conservation organizations in Singapore – AVS, SPCA, and ACRES. Using Microsoft Excel®, data were plotted to identify the general trends
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