Singapore
Criminal investigations in Singapore
The police and specialist agencies investigate; the Public Prosecutor then evaluates the evidence and decides on charges — the common-law police-led model.
Facts on this page were checked against their sources on .
Criminal investigation in Singapore is police-led, in the common-law manner. The Singapore Police Force, or the relevant specialist agency, conducts and directs the investigation and gathers the evidence; the Public Prosecutor then evaluates that evidence "to assess whether an offence is disclosed" and decides whether and what to charge, conducting the prosecution in court. The Public Prosecutor directs the prosecution, not the investigation, though it may take over or discontinue any prosecution.
The same idea, explained generally
- What is a criminal investigation?
A criminal investigation is a legally authorised process for establishing whether an offence occurred and gathering evidence that can be tested in court. This guide explains its structure, safeguards, and known failure modes.
- What is due process?
Due process is the requirement that the state follow fair, established procedures before it takes action against a person. This guide explains what it typically includes and how it differs between systems.
Sources
Sources
Attorney-General's Chambers (Singapore) — the Public Prosecutor: overview of functions
Attorney-General's Chambers (Singapore) · Government publication · link verified 2026-07-27
The Attorney-General's Chambers' own site, read directly. Supports that the Attorney-General, as Public Prosecutor (Constitution Art. 35(8); Criminal Procedure Code s 11), has control over all criminal proceedings, and that the AGC Crime Division works by evaluating the evidence secured by law-enforcement agencies to assess whether an offence is disclosed and then conducting prosecutions in the State Courts and the High Court. Establishes the police-investigate / prosecutor-decides-and-conducts division of labour.