Asia-Pacific

Singapore to set up youth guidance office

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-03 15:43

SINGAPORE -- Singapore will set up a new central Youth Guidance Office to help minimize the trend of youth offenses, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said on Tuesday.

With the purpose of providing a comprehensive overview of youth offending issues, the office would coordinate different programs run by the government and community partners, local TV broadcaster Channel NewsAsia reported.

By breaking the cycle of offending and re-offending early, it can help to prevent the situation of a growing social underclass - an increasing number trapped at the margins of society, the DPM said.

Wong also emphasized that Singapore must robustly defend the integrity of the institutions of justice and law enforcement when anyone maliciously attacks and undermines public confidence and trust which have been earned over the years.