SINGAPORE —  Enforcement actions taken by the National Environment Agency (NEA) against people who smoked in prohibited areas in public housing estates more than doubled last year compared with 2019. 

There was also an 80 per cent jump in high-rise littering acts captured over the same period, owing to the deployment of more surveillance cameras, it said in a media release on Thursday (Feb 4).

“In response to behavioural and work-life changes arising from Covid-19, the NEA adjusted its enforcement posture and prioritised resources to focus on areas with higher feedback in 2020.” 

Last year, 1,090 enforcement tickets were issued against those who smoked in areas of Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates where smoking is banned, such as common corridors, staircases and lift lobbies. In 2019, the number was 513.

In all, 18,500 tickets were issued to smoking offenders islandwide last year. Those who receive a ticket are liable to pay a fine. 

Separately, 18,400 tickets were issued to littering offenders. These include more than 1,000 instances of enforcement against high-rise litterbugs last year.

The Government had increased the deployment of surveillance cameras by more than 50 per cent last year, compared with 2019.

NEA said that the increased deployment was in response to a 45 per cent rise in feedback about high-rise littering and 25 per cent more feedback on smoking in 2020, compared with 2019. This may be attributed to more people working from home for a large part of last year because of Covid-19. 

Overall, more than 36,000 tickets were issued for littering and smoking offences last year. This was lower than the 49,000 tickets issued for such offences in 2019.

Under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act, anyone found smoking in a prohibited place will be asked to pay a composition sum of S$200 or could be liable for a fine of up to S$1,000 if convicted in court.

Under the Environmental Public Health Act, stiff penalties can be meted out for high-rise littering offences. The maximum fine for each littering act is S$2,000 for the first court conviction, S$4,000 for the second conviction and S$10,000 from the third conviction onwards. In addition to fines, the court may also impose corrective work orders for recalcitrant litterbugs to collect trash in public places, for instance.

ABUSE TOWARDS ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

In carrying out their enforcement duties, NEA’s enforcement officers have faced physical and verbal abuse from offenders. 

Last year, there were 90 instances of such abuses, with more than 70 cases occurring when officers engaged smoking or littering offenders. 

This is an increase of more than 10 per cent from the 79 abuse cases in 2019. 

“NEA takes a serious view of those who verbally or physically abuse our officers and will not hesitate to take strong actions, which may result in criminal prosecution for possible offences,” the agency said. 

Cases of abuse are reported to the police.

“We strongly urge members of the public to cooperate with our enforcement officers if approached,” NEA said.