2 police officers who were ‘under pressure’ did not follow procedures: Goh Pei Ming on Megan's case

Key Concepts

Megan Kung's Case: A tragic case involving child death, highlighting procedural failures within the police force.
Investigation Officer (IO): The primary police officer assigned to investigate a case.
Regular Case Review Sessions: Scheduled meetings where supervisors review cases for monitoring and guidance.
Missing Vulnerable Persons: Individuals, including young children, who are considered at higher risk when missing.
Family Violence Training Package: Training implemented in 2020 for police officers on handling family violence and child abuse cases sensitively.
Family Violence Teams (FVTs): Specialized teams formed in 2023 at all land divisions to focus on family violence and child abuse cases.
Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF): A government agency involved in social welfare and child protection.
MSF Protective Services: The division within MSF that collaborates with the police on child abuse cases.
Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (DVET): A 24/7 service launched in 2023 by MSF to provide immediate assistance to high-risk domestic violence cases.
Emergency Orders (EOs): Orders that can be issued by DVET officers under the Women's Charter to ensure immediate victim safety.
Women's Charter: Legislation that empowers DVET officers to issue emergency orders.
Technological Solutions: Implementation of technology to trigger automatic notifications for time-sensitive investigations.

Megan Kung's Case: Procedural Failures and Tragic Outcome

Megan Kung's case is described as a tragedy, with the government's view on it previously outlined by Minister Desmond. Following the discovery of Megan's death in 2020, the police conducted a review of their handling of the case. Two rounds of police reports were filed: the first in January 2020 by Megan's grandmother, and subsequent reports in July 2020 by both her grandmother and father.

A critical failure occurred with the Investigation Officer (IO) who handled the initial police report and her supervisor. They failed to follow police procedures by not escalating the case to the regular case review sessions for monitoring and guidance. At the time, the IO assessed the case as one of "child discipline with low safety concerns" based on the information available. After filing the report, the IO attempted to contact Megan's mother for two weeks but was unsuccessful. She did not pursue further follow-up as she was redeployed to COVID-19 related duties.

The transcript emphasizes that the case would normally have been followed up had the IO and her supervisor adhered to the procedure of escalating it to the regular case review sessions. It was only after the subsequent police reports were referred to these sessions that Megan's death was discovered, leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.

The police initiated internal investigations upon the case coming to light in 2020 and subsequently disciplined both the IO and her supervisor. The IO later resigned. A review panel has corroborated these findings.

Police Procedures for Missing Persons and Vulnerable Individuals

The police have established procedures for handling missing person reports, with a specific emphasis on missing vulnerable persons. These individuals, including young children, are accorded priority due to their potentially higher risk, irrespective of how long they have been missing.

Cases involving missing vulnerable persons are escalated to regular case review sessions with supervisors for monitoring and guidance. It is standard procedure for the police to collaborate with other government agencies to locate missing persons, which includes sharing data. When necessary, the police may also issue public appeals for information.

The police do not track the duration taken to close a case, acknowledging that various factors influence investigation length, such as the complexity of offenses and the need for inter-agency collaboration. Internal controls, including daily case reviews by supervisors and multiple levels of supervision, are in place to ensure prompt follow-up.

Enhancements to Police Processes and Systems

The police have continuously strengthened their processes and systems. Key enhancements include:

2020: Introduction of the Family Violence Training Package: This package was implemented for all frontline and investigation officers to promote a sensitive approach to family violence and child abuse cases. It aims to equip officers with the ability to recognize and escalate high-risk cases, and to collaborate effectively with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
2023: Formation of Family Violence Teams (FVTs): FVTs were established at all land divisions to provide dedicated focus to family violence and child abuse cases. Officers within these teams receive specialized training on sensitive victim engagement and integrated inter-agency work.

Collaboration with MSF and DVET for Child Protection

A significant aspect of the enhanced procedures involves close collaboration with the MSF. When the police encounter suspected child abuse, or when MSF receives an urgent report on high-risk cases through their national helpline, the police work with MSF Protective Services. This collaboration focuses on safety planning and social intervention for the family and child.

This partnership can involve the activation of MSF's Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (DVET). Launched in 2023, DVET is a round-the-clock service designed to provide immediate assistance to high-risk domestic violence cases with immediate safety concerns. DVET officers are empowered to:

Respond on-site to conduct professional assessments.
Make urgent arrangements for victim relocation or alternative care if necessary.
Issue Emergency Orders (EOs) under the Women's Charter at the scene to provide immediate safety for victims.

Technological Integration and Officer Responsibilities

To improve the efficiency of IOs and supervisory capabilities, the police have integrated technology. Technological solutions have been implemented to trigger automatic notifications to IOs and their supervisors, ensuring the prompt completion of time-sensitive investigations.

The transcript acknowledges the significant responsibility borne by frontline police officers in protecting lives. It states that officers take this responsibility seriously and perform their duties with commitment and professionalism. The increasing demands on officers mean they often face difficult judgment calls. The transcript concludes by stating that "When under pressure, mistakes can happen. In this case, the labs arose because two officers who were under pressure did not follow the established operating procedure. It was a serious breach and it resulted in a tragic outcome. The police will learn from this and reinforce procedures and training for his officers."

Conclusion

The summary details the procedural shortcomings in Megan Kung's case, specifically the failure to escalate the initial report to case review sessions, which led to a tragic outcome. It outlines the police's established procedures for missing vulnerable persons and highlights significant enhancements, including specialized training and the formation of Family Violence Teams. The crucial role of inter-agency collaboration with MSF, particularly through the DVET service and its ability to issue Emergency Orders, is emphasized for immediate victim safety. The integration of technology and the acknowledgment of the pressures faced by officers, while stressing the importance of learning from mistakes and reinforcing procedures, form the concluding points.