Caning in Singapore: Judicial, School & Parental Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment generally refers to inflicting deliberate physical pain as punishment – forms of corporal punishment include spanking or hitting with an object, such as a cane (i.e. caning).

Corporal punishment in the form of caning is still carried out in Singapore, in various contexts. This article will discuss 3 such contexts specifically:

1. Judicial Caning
2. Caning in Singapore Schools
3. Parental Corporal Punishment

Judicial Caning in Singapore

Judicial caning is a form of corporal punishment in Singapore that is meted out to offenders.

Judicial caning is applicable to more than 30 offences under the Penal Code, and is mandatory for offences such as robbery, drug trafficking and vandalism.

Who can be caned?

Caning is only carried out on male offenders who are below 50 years of age, and who are certified medically fit for caning.

Who is exempted from judicial caning?

Currently, the law exempts the following from judicial caning:

• Women
• Men aged above 50 at the time of caning
• Men on death row whose sentences have not been commuted

If an offender cannot be caned due to his age, the courts may impose additional jail time of up to 12 months in lieu of caning.

Offenders under the age of 50 can also be exempt from caning if they are found medically unfit. For example, in 2019, a foreign national who sexually assaulted his son’s nine-year-old friend was found unfit to be given 14 strokes of the cane due to a lumbar spine fracture and multilevel degenerative disc disease.

How is judicial caning carried out?

Where one is sentenced to caning in addition to imprisonment, caning must not be inflicted until after the period within which the sentence can be appealed. If an appeal is made, caning cannot be inflicted until after the end of the appeal.

Where a person is sentenced to caning only, or where the caning cannot be carried out before the person’s release from jail, the Public Prosecutor must apply to the court for the authorisation of detention of the person, for a period necessary for carrying out the sentence of caning.

The time and place of the caning is to be directed by the court. However, the offender will not be given any advance notice of when he will be caned.

On the day of the caning, a cane of up to 1.27 cm in diameter will be used. For juvenile offenders – children below 16 years old – a light rattan will be used instead. The caning will be administered on the offender’s bare buttocks.

A medical officer has to be present during the caning to certify that the offender is medically fit for caning. Caning must be stopped mid-way if the medical officer certifies that the offender is medically unable to proceed with the number of strokes of the cane that he has been sentenced to.

It is not possible for caning to be executed in instalments.

Thus, if a caning is stopped mid-session, the offender may be given up to 12 months of imprisonment in lieu of the caning. This also applies where the offender is deemed medically unfit to be caned from the outset.

How many strokes of cane are allowed to be imposed on offenders?

There is a legal limit of 24 strokes for adult offenders and 10 for juvenile offenders — in the same sitting.

Hence, where an offender is convicted of more than one offence, resulting in the number of strokes to be more than 24, he would be imprisoned for up to 12 months in lieu of the strokes exceeding 24.

However, if an offender is convicted in a later sitting for an offence that is also punishable by caning, the same punishment can be meted out again, resulting in the offender receiving more than 24 strokes of the cane in total.

Caning in Singapore Schools

Caning, as a form of corporal punishment in Singapore schools, is legally permitted under regulation 88 of the Education (Schools) Regulations. Caning in schools is carried out as an educative and disciplinary measure for serious offences committed by male students, and when other corrective actions have already been exhausted.

Caning is usually paired with counselling sessions and is intended to serve as a deterrent for further student offences.

How is caning carried out in schools?

Corporal punishment can only be inflicted by the principal or under his express authority.

Only male pupils can be caned. A range of 1 to 3 strokes of a light cane may be given on the palms on the hands or on the buttocks over clothing.

Caning is usually done as a last resort, and for serious offences. For example, in November 2024, several male students from the Singapore Sports School who created and shared deepfake nude photos of their female classmates were subject to disciplinary actions, including caning.

Parental Corporal Punishment

A 2022 study found that nearly 45 percent of parents in Singapore resorted to at least one form of corporal punishment on their children, and close to 30 percent of parents who use physical methods of discipline were found to do so frequently.

It is not illegal or unlawful for parents to use corporal punishment on their children in Singapore, unless it goes to the extent or severity where the punishment amounts to abuse.

When does parental corporal punishment become abuse?

Singapore considers corporal punishment by parents as abuse when it:

1. Causes unnecessary physical pain, suffering or injury;
2. Emotional injury; or
3. Injury to the health or development of the child.

Parents have been convicted for inflicting physical abuse on their children. For example, a 38-year-old father was sentenced to eight months’ jail in May 2024 for causing the death of his four-year-old son by forcing chili into his mouth as a form of punishment.

What can parents do instead of imposing corporal punishment?

Corporal punishment is still very much rooted in many Asian cultures, including Singapore. However, scientific studies have found that corporal punishment increases the risk of negative developmental outcomes for children.

For parents who struggle with disciplining their children, they can turn to evidence-based parenting programmes for help. The Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P) is one such programme parents can look to.

It is a multi-level, prevention-oriented parenting and family support programme that has proved “greater parenting competence, lower parenting stress, improved emotional states and reduced behavioural problems in children.”

The main crux of the Triple P programme strategies is to develop positive parent-child relationships, attitudes and conduct. According to Mr Francis Lee, an accredited Triple P trainer, here are 3 parenting tips from the programme:

1. Give clear instructions when your child is doing something undesirable. This is so that the child understands from you what is the positive behaviour they should exhibit.
2. Do not nag when you want your child to do something, instead take actions to ensure your child does what is told. E.g. if you want your child to stop watching TV and do something, turn off the TV instead of nagging repeatedly.
3. Be aware of your emotions and refrain from disciplining your child when you are unable to be firm and calm in your actions.

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We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of corporal punishment in Singapore and offers clarity regarding the parameters within which it is and can be carried out.

For persons charged with an offence that is punishable with caning and are seeking legal advice, please do not hesitate to contact one of our criminal defence lawyers.