Anti-violence helpline reports jump nearly 50% in 2025 amid greater vigilance: MSF

DVERT responds jointly with the police to high-risk domestic violence cases involving immediate safety concerns for victim-survivors. The team can be activated through referrals from the police or NAVH.

MSF said the increase in responses was likely partly due to DVERT’s expansion to all seven police divisions islandwide in September 2024, which made crisis intervention and support more accessible to affected families. 

It added that each response is counted separately, including instances where the same family required assistance on multiple occasions.

Depending on the circumstances, DVERT officers may provide immediate safety planning, crisis intervention and practical support at the scene before connecting families with follow-up services. 

Social service professionals said such timely intervention is crucial, as domestic violence situations can escalate quickly.

“The value of DVERT is not only in responding to an immediate incident but also in facilitating early identification of risks and helping families access support before concerns potentially escalate further,” said Ms Tee Hui Wen, centre head of Whispering Hearts Family Service Centre. 

She added that earlier referrals and information sharing help social workers assess risks, plan for safety and coordinate further interventions.

OVER 1,100 EMERGENCY ORDERS ISSUED 

A total of 1,151 emergency orders were issued in 2025, following amendments to the Women’s Charter that took effect in January that year. 

The amendments empowered DVERT officers to issue emergency orders temporarily restraining perpetrators from committing violence against family members while victim-survivors seek longer-term protection orders from the courts. 

Of the emergency orders issued, 80 per cent were against male perpetrators – with those aged between 30 and 49 accounting for the largest age group. 

Spouses of victim-survivors accounted for 674 – or 59 per cent – of the orders issued. 

The remaining orders involved other family relationships, including parents (154), children (141), siblings (138), relatives (31) and former spouses (13). 

Data on how many emergency orders were followed by applications for longer-term personal protection orders is currently not available, MSF said. 

A spokesperson from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) told CNA that breaching an emergency order – including a domestic exclusion order, stay away order or no contact order – is an arrestable offence. 

“The police take reports of suspected emergency order breaches seriously and will investigate where there is reason to suspect that an offence has been committed, including consulting the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) where required,” SPF said.