Protection from Harassment Act - Singapore Statutes Online

Threatening, abusing or insulting public servant or public service worker

6.—(1) No person shall by any means —

(a)	use any indecent, threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; or
(b)	make any indecent, threatening, abusive or insulting communication,

towards or to a public servant or public service worker (referred to for the purposes of this section as the victim) in relation to the execution of the victim’s duty as such public servant or public service worker.

(2) No offence is committed under this section unless the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the victim was acting in his capacity as a public servant or public service worker, as the case may be.

(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and, subject to section 8, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

(4) In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (3), it is a defence for the accused person to prove —

(a)	that he had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the communication made, by him would be heard, seen or otherwise perceived by the victim; or
(b)	that his conduct was reasonable.

(5) In this section —

“public servant” has the same meaning as in the Penal Code (Cap. 224), and includes any person who, by virtue of any other written law, is deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code;

“public service worker” means an individual who belongs to a prescribed class of employees or workers that provides any service which is essential to the well‑being of the public or the proper functioning of Singapore, as prescribed under subsection (6).

(6) For the purposes of the definition of “public service worker” in subsection (5), the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, prescribe the classes of employees or workers and the services provided by them.

(7) Every order made under subsection (6) shall be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette.

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