More S’pore youth caught for offences in 2025, largely due to rise in cheating cases

A total of 3,117 youth aged between 10 and under 21 were arrested in 2025, up from 2,627 in 2024.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Published Sep 29, 2026, 06:00 PM

Updated Sep 29, 2026, 06:00 PM

Youth arrests in 2025 rose by 19%, with 3,117 youth arrested compared to 2,627 in 2024. This is mainly due to an increase in cheating offences with youth acting as scam mules.

The youth offending rate increased to 5.6 per 1,000 youth in 2025, with theft and sexual offences following cheating as the most commonly committed crimes; drug offending rates stayed stable.

The proportion of youth who re-offended also rose, while authorities focus on prevention, early support, and reducing reoffending through education and coordinated care.

SINGAPORE - About 19% more young people were arrested in 2025, with the increase largely driven by a rise in cheating offences, such as youth acting as scam mules.

A total of 3,117 youth aged between 10 and under 21 were arrested in 2025, up from 2,627 in 2024, according to the Supporting Youth Rehabilitation Trends Report released by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on Sept 29.

The rise in youth arrests pushed the youth offending rate up from 4.8 per 1,000 youth in 2024 to 5.6 per 1,000 youth in 2025.

But the rate is still lower than the peak of 5.8 per 1,000 youth in 2021.

The report, released once every two years, gives an overview of the key youth offending and rehabilitation trends from 2021 to 2025.

Cheating and related offences were the most commonly committed offences in 2025, with 1,114 youth caught for such offences - a 37% jump from 814 in 2024.

These include youth who acted as money mules by giving scammers control of their bank accounts or Singpass credentials, or registering SIM cards or mobile lines for scammers to use.

In other cheating cases mentioned by the report , some youth forged identification documents or used other people’s identification documents to enter clubs or buy cigarettes, as they were not old enough to do so.

Franz Lowe, assistant director of Youth Service@Children’s Society, said some youth get into trouble with the law as they want fast and easy cash.

For example, they may get $50 or $100 for facilitating a few transactions after giving scammers access to their bank accounts.

He said: “To them, they feel the chances of getting caught is low. And it’s easy money.”

In non-scam cheating cases, Lowe said some youth sold fake items online or did not deliver items to buyers after getting paid.

The second most common offence was theft and related offences. Most commonly stolen items were food and drinks, personal care products and cosmetics.

Lowe said that some youth steal for the fun and thrill of it, so they can boast to their friends.

Other youth steal items of low value such as food, drinks and personal care items as they have run away from home and do not have money to buy such necessities, he said.

Sexual offences were the third most commonly committed offence by youth in 2025.

Meanwhile, the drug offending rate for youth remained stable at 0.5 per 1,000 youth in both 2024 and 2025. Drug consumption offences ranked fifth on the list of top offences committed.

The proportion of youth who re-offended within two years of completing their rehabilitation programme or Court order, which is known as the two-year recidivism rate, also rose.

The two-year recidivism rate for Tier 1 and Tier 2 cases rose from 9.1% for those released in 2022 to 10.3% for those released in 2023. Rehabilitation programmes are grouped into three tiers, with Tier 3 cases requiring the most intensive rehabilitation.

The report noted that the recidivism rate dipped during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, likely due to movement restrictions and fewer opportunities for offending. Rates returned to pre-pandemic levels for youth released from 2022.

Those under Tier 1 go through rehabilitation programmes such as the Guidance Programme and the Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme, which are run by social service agencies that run diversionary programmes and are known as Integrated Service Providers.

Tier 2 cases involve youth placed in Youth Homes or are under probation orders, while Tier 3 cases are sent to agencies under the Singapore Prison Service’s purview, such as Prison and the Reformative Training Centre.

The number of cases on Tier 1 rehabilitation programmes more than doubled from 233 cases in 2024 to 495 cases in 2025.

The increase is partly driven by the placement of first and second-time etomidate abusers on the Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme, said the MSF spokesperson. Such placement started in 2025 for those who abuse etomidate, which is an anaesthetic used in e-vaporisers known as Kpods.

The Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme is meant for those under 21 who are arrested for drug consumption for the first time and assessed to have a low risk of re-offending.

In April, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung raised concerns about recalcitrant young vape users, including some who get caught three times even while undergoing rehabilitation .

More youth were also placed on Tier 3 schemes for serious offences like drug consumption, loan shark harassment and acting as money mules for scammers.

The number rose from 276 cases in 2024 to 399 cases in 2025.

The report outlined various initiatives to prevent and lower youth offending.

The Police has worked with the Education Ministry to include anti-scam messages in school advisories and outreach programmes, while stepping up public education efforts to raise awareness among youth about the consequences of facilitating scam activities.

The MSF has also started in April a new programme called Pivot Families (Positive Interventions that Value Opportunities and build Thriving Families), where it is engaging with youth offenders to identify and support their siblings before they get into trouble with the law.

The MSF spokesperson told The Straits Times that the support given is tailored to each family’s circumstances. This involves co-ordinating the support given between schools, social service agencies, government partners and other agencies to reduce the risk of offending.

The MSF and the MHA said that addressing the rise in youth offending remains a high priority.

In its next term, the National Committee on Preventing Offending and Reoffending will focus on three priorities: boosting preventive education, improving early identification and co-ordinated support for youth and families at higher risk and strengthening rehabilitation and after-care efforts to reduce re-offending.

Ministry of Social and Family Development

2025 年，共有 3,117 名 10 岁至 21 岁以下的青少年被捕，高于 2024 年的 2,627 人。

图片说明：联合早报

发布于2026年9月29日下午6:00

更新于2026年9月29日下午6:00

2025 年青少年被捕人数比 2024 年增加了 19%，达到 3117 人，而 2024 年为 2627 人。这主要是由于诈骗犯罪增加，青少年充当诈骗工具。

到 2025 年，青少年犯罪率上升至每 1000 名青少年 5.6 人，其中盗窃和诈骗后发生的性犯罪最为常见；毒品犯罪率保持稳定。

青少年再犯率也有所上升，而当局则着重于预防、早期支持，并通过教育和协调护理来减少再犯。

新加坡——2025年被捕的年轻人数量将增加约19%，这一增长主要是由于诈骗犯罪的增加，例如青少年充当诈骗工具。

根据社会及家庭发展部 (MSF) 于 9 月 29 日发布的《支持青少年改造趋势报告》，2025 年共有 3,117 名 10 岁至 21 岁以下的青少年被捕，高于 2024 年的 2,627 人。

青少年逮捕人数的增加导致青少年犯罪率从 2024 年的每 1000 名青少年 4.8 人上升到 2025 年的每 1000 名青少年 5.6 人。

但这一比率仍低于 2021 年每 1000 名青少年 5.8 人的峰值。

该报告每两年发布一次，概述了 2021 年至 2025 年青少年犯罪和改造的主要趋势。

2025 年，作弊及相关犯罪是最常见的犯罪行为，共有 1114 名青少年因这类犯罪被抓获，比 2024 年的 814 人增加了 37%。

其中包括一些青少年，他们充当洗钱工具，将自己的银行账户或 Singpass 凭证交给诈骗分子控制，或者为诈骗分子注册 SIM 卡或手机号码。

报告中提到的其他作弊案例中，一些青少年伪造身份证件或使用他人的身份证件进入俱乐部或购买香烟，因为他们年龄不够。

儿童协会青年服务部助理主任弗朗茨·洛表示，一些青少年因为想要快速轻松地获得现金而触犯法律。

例如，在允许诈骗分子访问他们的银行账户后，他们可能会因协助进行几笔交易而获得 50 美元或 100 美元。

他说：“他们觉得被抓的几率很低，而且钱来得容易。”

洛伊表示，在非诈骗案件中，一些青少年在网上出售假冒商品，或者在收到买家付款后没有交付商品。

第二大常见罪行是盗窃及相关罪行。最常被盗的物品是食品饮料、个人护理用品和化妆品。

洛伊说，有些年轻人偷窃是为了寻求刺激和乐趣，这样他们就可以向朋友炫耀。

他说，其他一些青少年因为离家出走，没有钱购买食物、饮料和个人护理用品等低价值物品，所以他们会偷窃这些必需品。

2025年，性犯罪是青少年第三大常见犯罪。

与此同时，2024 年和 2025 年青少年毒品犯罪率保持稳定，为每千名青少年 0.5 人。吸毒犯罪在青少年犯罪排行榜上位列第五。

在完成康复计划或法院命令后的两年内再次犯罪的青少年比例（即两年再犯率）也有所上升。

一级和二级罪犯的两年再犯率从 2022 年获释者的 9.1% 上升到 2023 年获释者的 10.3%。康复计划分为三个级别，其中三级罪犯需要最密集的康复治疗。

报告指出，2020年新冠疫情期间，青少年再犯率有所下降，这可能是由于出行限制和犯罪机会减少所致。2022年获释的青少年再犯率已恢复到疫情前水平。

第一层级的青少年将接受康复计划，例如指导计划和青少年强化监管计划，这些计划由开展分流计划的社会服务机构（称为综合服务提供商）负责实施。

第二级案件涉及被安置在青少年之家或处于缓刑令下的青少年，而第三级案件则被送往新加坡监狱署管辖下的机构，如监狱和改造训练中心。

一级康复计划的病例数从 2024 年的 233 例增加到 2025 年的 495 例，翻了一番还多。

社会及家庭发展部发言人表示，部分原因是由于首次和第二次滥用依托咪酯的青少年被纳入“青少年强化监管计划”。该计划将于2025年开始实施，针对滥用依托咪酯的青少年。依托咪酯是一种用于电子烟（Kpods）的麻醉剂。

青少年强化监管计划适用于 21 岁以下、首次因吸毒被捕且经评估再犯风险较低的青少年。

今年四月，卫生部长王乙康对屡教不改的年轻电子烟使用者表示担忧，其中一些人即使在接受康复治疗期间也三次被抓。

更多青少年因吸毒、高利贷骚扰和为诈骗犯充当洗钱工具等严重罪行而被列入第三级计划。

病例数从 2024 年的 276 例上升到 2025 年的 399 例。

该报告概述了预防和减少青少年犯罪的各项举措。

警方与教育部合作，将反诈骗信息纳入学校公告和宣传计划，同时加大公共教育力度，提高青少年对协助诈骗活动后果的认识。

无国界医生组织于 4 月启动了一项名为“枢纽家庭”（重视机会并建立繁荣家庭的积极干预措施）的新计划，该计划旨在与青少年罪犯接触，以便在他们的兄弟姐妹触犯法律之前识别并支持他们。

社会及家庭发展部发言人告诉《海峡时报》，所提供的支持是根据每个家庭的具体情况量身定制的。这包括协调学校、社会服务机构、政府合作伙伴和其他机构之间的支持，以降低犯罪风险。

社会及家庭发展部和内政部表示，解决青少年犯罪率上升问题仍然是当务之急。

在下一届任期内，国家预防犯罪和再犯罪委员会将重点关注三个优先事项：加强预防教育，改善对高危青少年和家庭的早期识别和协调支持，以及加强康复和后续护理工作以减少再犯罪。

社会及家庭发展部