Protection from Harassment Act 2014 Comes Into Effect
27 Nov 2014
This update reports recent developments on the status of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 (“Act”) in Singapore.
On 15 November 2014, the Act came into effect.
In conjunction with the Act coming into effect, the following subsidiary legislation was issued:
- Protection from Harassment (Exempt Class of Persons) Order 2014 (“Exempt Persons Order”); and
- Protection from Harassment (Public Service Worker) Order 2014 (“Public Service Worker Order”).
Pursuant to the Exempt Persons Order, the court will not be able to make a protection order or expedited protection order prohibiting the publication of an offending communication, or an order under section 15(2) of the Act, against persons who are not originators of the offending communication or statement, or who are merely facilitating or acting as a form of conduit for the transmission of the offending communication or statement.
Separately, the Public Service Worker Order sets out an extensive list of the specific categories of employees/workers who are “public service workers” within the meaning of the Act, and who would thereby be afforded protection under the Act, given that it is an offence under the Act to use or make any indecent, threatening, abusive or insulting words, behaviour or communication towards or to a public service worker, in relation to the execution of the victim’s duty as such public service worker.
The Exempt Persons Order and the Public Service Worker Order clarify some of the parameters for the application of the Act.
To read the update, please click here.