Singapore Police announces new migrant worker ambassadors, working to address gambling risks

Singapore Police announces new migrant worker ambassadors, working to address gambling risks

 
 

 
 
     

    The Singapore Police Force has announced they have a new cohort of C.a.N ambassadors to help educate migrant workers about problematic gambling behaviors.

    The initiative marks a collaboration between the CID’s Casino Crime Investigation Branch (CCIB) and the National Council on Problem Gambling. The migrant workers who are selected to join in this role are called C.a.N ambassadors.

    Those who apply have to undergo an interview and are then assessed on a number of criteria and they are required to work in Singapore for more than two years. Once named an ambassador, they are then trained to educate about problematic gambling behaviors.

    They also share crime prevention advisories with the CCIB’s guidance and help guide peers towards available support, including casino self-exclusion. The people selected must participate in at least one outreach session at dormitories or recreational centers during their two-year term.

    It was on 18 January when 46 ambassadors were recognized, with 24 being reappointed and 22 newly appointed.

    Singapore Police’s first ambassador program to help educate on gambling risks took place in 2022

    It was in 2022 when 40-year-old Mr Abul Bossain Tuhin joined the inaugural ambassador program which was spearheaded by the Singapore Police Force’s Criminal Investigation Department to spread awareness about responsible gambling.

    He has said that scenes of migrant workers crying outside a casino when he left a night shift broke his heart and made him realize that he had to do something to help stop the vicious cycle. The man has now been serving as a C.a.N ambassador for the past four years.

    Speaking about the program, Mr Tuhin said: “It’s really meaningful for me because so many of my fellow countrymen don’t know how to solve their problems,” Mr Tuhin said.

    At the ceremony where the new ambassadors were present, along with representatives from partner agencies, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Eugene Wang, Assistant Director of the CID’s Specialised Crime Division, expressed his appreciation to those who have joined the program.

    “We’ve encountered cases where migrant workers were arrested for casino-related crimes and it’s heartbreaking to see them repatriated after serving their sentence,” he said. “They lose not only their hard-earned salaries but also future employment opportunities in Singapore.”

    Featured Image: Credit to Singapore Police Force

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    Sophie Atkinson

    Freelance Journalist

    Sophie Atkinson is a UK-based journalist and content writer, as well as a founder of a content agency which focuses on storytelling through social media marketing. She kicked off her career with a Print Futures Award which champions young talent working in print, paper and publishing. Heading straight into a regional newsroom, after graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism, Sophie started by working for Reach PLC. Now, with five years experience in journalism and many more in content marketing, Sophie works as a freelance writer and marketer. Her areas of specialty span a wide range, including technology, business,…

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