Overview
- Minister of State Goh Pei Ming called two officers’ failure to follow established procedures a serious breach that led to a tragic outcome, noting they were under pressure and that procedures and training will be reinforced.
- The investigation officer resigned and her supervisor was found guilty of neglect of duty and fined in internal proceedings, with both cases arising from missed escalation of an early report.
- Desmond Lee said the government accepts the panel’s findings and will independently review all deaths of abused children known to social services, create a technology-backed social services co-ordination centre with tighter links to police, set up a triage assessment panel by Q1 2026, and require preschools to report suspected abuse directly to the national helpline by early 2026.
- The police highlighted upgrades including Family Violence Training for frontline and investigation officers, Family Violence Teams at all land divisions, automatic notifications to prompt time-sensitive follow-ups, and priority protocols for missing vulnerable persons with cross-agency data sharing.
- MSF reported expanded child protection capacity with officer numbers more than doubled since 2019 and lower caseloads, plans to increase audits and practice reviews, and a Protection Practitioners Care Fund to bolster skills and well-being from 2026.