More than 300 volunteers needed to help the vulnerable during police investigations

SINGAPORE — The number of specially trained volunteers accompanying people with developmental disabilities when their statements are being recorded at all six police divisions, is expected to increase in the coming months.

The Law Society of Singapore Pro Bono Services Office, which administers the Appropriate Adult scheme, is looking at increasing the current pool of 60 such volunteers to more than 300 volunteers to facilitate the scheme’s expansion.

Law Society president Thio Shen Yi said Appropriate Adults play a “key and unprecedented role towards greater impartiality and fairness” in the Singapore criminal justice system for persons with developmental disabilities.

Launching the expansion of the scheme today (March 31), the Central Singapore CDC through the Appropriate Adult Volunteers Mobilisation Launch, will create awareness of the scheme through its extensive network of community partners.

Mayor of Central Singapore District Ms Denise Phua said, “The Approriate Adults Scheme is a very significant programme, which is widely adopted by criminal justice systems in many developed and progressive countries”.

The expansion of the scheme follows a successful pilot run at Bedok Police Division in 2013 which helped close to 50 persons with developmental disabilities. The volunteers acted as the bridge between the investigation officer and persons with developmental disabilities. The volunteers’ presence helped to facilitate the interview process and enabled the persons with developmental disabilities to understand the investigation officer’s queries and communicate more effectively.

“Some persons with special needs can be fearful of police or other authority figures and can easily agree to accusations, but they may not be guilty; they could simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Mr Christopher Goh, a property agent who is one of the pioneer Appropriate Adult volunteers.