Vivian Balakrishnan, Environment

High-rise littering penalties need to be "significantly raised": Dr Vivian

Since close circuit cameras to monitor high-rise littering was piloted in 2011, there have been 12 suspects apprehended and five prosecuted in court, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today in Parliament.

Dr Balakrishnan, responding to questions from Nee Soon GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak said he is "not satisfied" with the high-rise littering situation, noting that about 8,000 complaints are received yearly but few cases brought to court, typically about 10 a year.

In order to improve the these rates, Mr Balakrishnan said the Government would "probably need to review penalties". Existing fines imposed currently range from $800 to $1,500, and these "need to be significantly raised", he said.

But Dr Balakrishnan added: "I don't think surveillance cameras are the final or primary solution to this problem."

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