Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985

The Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 is legislation enacted in Singapore that allows for the detention of individuals involved in drug activities without trial under certain circumstances. The Act empowers the Minister for Home Affairs to issue detention orders, or orders of supervision, against individuals if the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in the interests of public safety, peace, and good order, or for the suppression of drug activities.

The key provisions of the Act involve the preventive detention of individuals suspected of being involved in drug trafficking or related activities. Detainees can be held for specified periods, subject to reviews and extensions. The Act also allows for supervision orders, which place individuals under restrictions and monitoring to prevent them from relapsing into drug-related offences.

The legislation has been controversial due to its provision for detention without trial, raising concerns about due process and human rights. The Singapore government maintains that these measures are necessary to combat drug trafficking and maintain public safety in a country with a strict anti-drug policy. The Act is typically invoked in situations where sufficient evidence for a criminal conviction is lacking, but there is reason to believe that an individual is involved in drug-related activities and poses a threat to public safety. Judicial review of the Minister's decisions is limited, focusing primarily on procedural issues rather than the substantive merits of the detention orders.