Getting Help in Singapore | Family Violence and Abuse

If you are experiencing family violence in Singapore or are worried someone is being abused, help is available whether or not you have decided to make a court application. For immediate danger, call the Police at 999. If it is unsafe to speak, the Singapore authorities also identify SMS 70999 as a route for emergency Police assistance. For information, support and reporting concerns about child abuse, adult abuse or domestic violence, call the National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) at 1800-777-0000, available 24 hours a day.

The right next step depends on safety. A person who may be harmed tonight needs emergency assistance or a safe place, not a long internet checklist. Someone who is physically safe but experiencing intimidation, threats, sexual abuse or repeated family violence can ask for confidential guidance from NAVH, a Family Service Centre or a Protection Specialist Centre. Singapore’s Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) explains how to report concerns; the Singapore Courts explain applications for a Personal Protection Order (PPO).

Quick action guide:

Immediate threat to life or safety: call 999; use SMS 70999 if you cannot safely speak.
Worried about domestic violence, child abuse or abuse of an adult: call NAVH 1800-777-0000, 24/7, or use the official NAVH reporting route.
Injured: seek appropriate medical attention; a clinician can treat and document injuries.
Not safe at home: tell the Police, NAVH or an appropriate social service professional that you need help finding a safe place.
Considering a protection order: read the Family Justice Courts’ PPO guidance; an application is not the same as an emergency-response call.
Supporting another person: listen, prioritise safety, avoid confronting the alleged abuser and share factual concerns through official channels.

What Counts as Family Violence?

Family violence does not always begin with a visible injury. Singapore’s Family Justice Courts describe family violence in terms that can include physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse under the applicable legal rules.

A family member may make threats of injury, use force, restrain someone against their will, coerce sexual activity, or engage in conduct that seriously torments or intimidates another person. A person may also feel unsafe because of escalating controlling behaviour and threats.

Whether particular conduct meets a legal definition is a question for the relevant authorities or courts, not for a general web article. But you do not have to decide the entire legal issue before asking for support.

This article is about finding protection and appropriate help. It is not a substitute for emergency services, professional safeguarding or individual legal advice.

First: Check Whether You Can Safely Seek Help

If the person causing harm is present, monitoring the device, threatening violence or preventing you from leaving, do not spend time reading further just to complete a checklist. Seek immediate Police assistance when there is danger.

When possible and safe, use a phone or device that is not being monitored, move to an appropriate safe location and contact emergency services or a trusted professional. Do not assume that clearing browser history or using private browsing will make communications invisible to someone who controls a device or account.

Safety plans vary greatly. Some people can safely leave immediately; others need help because they have children, limited mobility, a disability, medical needs or no accessible place to go. You can tell NAVH or the Police these constraints directly.

A useful first sentence is: “I am not safe at home and need help finding a safe way to get protection.” You do not need to recite every incident before making the urgent need clear.

NAVH 1800-777-0000: Who Is It For?

The National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline is a 24-hour service for reporting abuse and obtaining guidance on domestic violence-related concerns. It is not restricted to a person who has already made a Police report.

MSF describes NAVH as a contact point for child abuse, adult abuse and domestic violence. It is also a resource for people who witness or suspect abuse. Reporting in good faith is appropriate even when you cannot independently prove every detail.

You can find the current helpline and reporting information at MSF’s official domestic violence reporting page.

What should you say when you call?

Describe:

Who may be at risk and where they are.
Whether the risk is happening now or might happen soon.
What you have seen or experienced, using concrete examples.
Whether children, older persons or people with disabilities are involved.
Whether there are injuries or urgent healthcare needs.
Whether the person has a safe way to receive a return call.
What practical obstacle makes seeking safety difficult.

You do not need to be a trained professional. A truthful description of what you know, including uncertainty about dates or details, is a useful starting point.

Does NAVH replace the Police?

No. MSF says to contact the Police at 999 when there is imminent danger to life and safety. NAVH can advise and receive reports, but do not delay emergency intervention because you think a helpline report must happen first.

Can someone report abuse involving another person?

Yes. MSF invites reports from people who have experienced or witnessed abuse or who are concerned about another person. Describe what you directly observed and distinguish it from what another person told you. Do not invent details.

Where to Go If You Cannot Stay at Home

The MSF Family Assist guidance recognises that some people experiencing family violence may need temporary shelter when they are unsafe at home and have nowhere suitable to go.

You can tell NAVH, the Police, a Family Service Centre or a Protection Specialist Centre that you are unable to return safely to your current home. Ask what immediate and longer-term options are available for your circumstances, including any children or dependants.

A crisis shelter is not an ordinary hotel booking. Access depends on the person’s situation, risk assessment and service arrangements. The important next step is to tell a safeguarding professional that you need a safe place, not to travel unannounced to a shelter address found online.

If you have an urgent medical or disability-related need, describe it so that any suggested arrangements take it into account.

Do I Need a Police Report to Ask for Help?

You can contact NAVH or an appropriate social service provider even if you have not decided whether to lodge a Police report. The correct process depends on the facts and may include referrals, reporting or safety arrangements.

For imminent danger, call Police immediately. For other situations, the MSF reporting guidance explains both the helpline and online reporting routes.

MSF states that reports made in good faith can be submitted without civil or criminal liability for making the report, and it explains circumstances in which information may need to be reported to the Police. Ask the service how confidentiality, data-sharing and safety are handled in your case rather than assuming every report is fully anonymous or never shared.

What Is a Personal Protection Order?

A Personal Protection Order (PPO) is a court order intended to protect a person from family violence by a qualifying family member. The Singapore Family Justice Courts’ PPO application guide sets out who can apply, who the application may be made against and how the case proceeds.

A PPO is a legal process, not a hotline, immediate accommodation service or automatic consequence of calling NAVH.

Who can a PPO be made against?

Court guidance lists categories of qualifying family relationships, such as a spouse or former spouse, parent, child, sibling and certain other relatives. An unmarried partner is not automatically within the same Family Courts PPO category; the court guidance specifically distinguishes some relationships.

If you are unsure whether the relationship is covered, ask for individual legal guidance or use the court’s official eligibility explanation. Do not assume protection is unavailable simply because a particular PPO route may not apply; different laws or safety channels may be relevant.

How can I apply?

The Judiciary explains that an application may be made in person through the relevant Family Justice Courts or Protection Specialist Centres. Some information and documents can be submitted online through the Integrated Family Application Management System (iFAMS) before attending the appropriate location.

An application may involve verification, court mentions and further court directions. It is not the same as receiving an immediate order by filling in a form.

Do I need a lawyer to apply?

The Courts state that a person does not need a lawyer to file a PPO application, although they may choose to obtain legal advice or representation. Court staff cannot act as your personal lawyer or guarantee a result.

What if the risk is urgent while a PPO application is pending?

Ask the appropriate authorities about urgent protective arrangements. The Courts’ guidance describes Expedited Orders in qualifying cases where there is a danger of family violence pending the PPO process. Only the Court can determine whether a particular order should be made.

If a person is currently in danger, emergency Police assistance remains the immediate route. Never treat an upcoming court date as a reason to wait through an imminent safety threat.

Child Abuse: How a Parent, Relative or Teacher Can Help

When the person at risk is a child, the adult’s first responsibility is safety. Children may describe harm indirectly, hesitate to speak, or be frightened about what will happen if someone learns they have disclosed information.

Listen calmly and avoid conducting your own interrogation. Do not promise absolute secrecy when a safeguarding report may be necessary. Record what was said as accurately as possible and contact an appropriate professional or official service.

MSF identifies NAVH 1800-777-0000 as a reporting channel for child abuse and neglect. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

A student can also tell a trusted teacher, school counsellor or other responsible adult. When there are injuries, seek appropriate medical assessment. The goal is to protect the child, not to confront a suspected perpetrator or gather enough evidence for a personal investigation.

Elder Abuse and Abuse of Vulnerable Adults

Abuse of older persons and adults with disabilities can be difficult to recognise from the outside. Someone may depend on the very person they fear for housing, medication, transport or daily care.

Possible concerns include violence, neglect, coercion or changes in how a person can access essential support. These signs do not establish abuse by themselves. A proper assessment should distinguish harm, illness, disability and complex family circumstances.

Singapore’s MSF vulnerable adult guidance describes the statutory concept of a vulnerable adult, and the Singapore Courts explain protective order applications where appropriate.

Report credible concerns to NAVH or the Police depending on urgency. If an older person cannot safely manage a phone call, explain that limitation to the receiving service.

How to Seek Medical Help After Violence

If someone has been injured, obtaining medical care matters even when they are uncertain about taking legal steps. Healthcare professionals can treat injuries, assess further medical concerns and, where appropriate, document what they find.

You can explain what happened in your own words. If speaking privately is necessary, ask to speak to the clinician away from anyone accompanying you, when safely possible. The institution can also advise on available social work support and the reporting responsibilities applicable to the circumstances.

Do not delay urgently needed medical attention just to collect photographs or other evidence. An emergency medical situation may require 995, and Police assistance may be needed for ongoing danger.

What if the Person Does Not Want to Report?

A person may fear retaliation, losing accommodation, becoming separated from children, social consequences or economic dependence. These are real practical barriers and should not be dismissed as indecision.

Ask what support they need and what they believe would increase or reduce risk. Share official routes and offer to accompany them when appropriate. Do not confront the alleged abuser on their behalf or expose their plans to others unnecessarily.

Where a child, vulnerable adult or another person faces immediate danger, safety and safeguarding obligations may require urgent action regardless of an informal preference to do nothing. Seek guidance from the appropriate authority.

Professional services can help explore options without requiring the affected person to solve every part of the situation before asking a first question.

A Simple Safety Preparation Checklist

Only use preparation steps that are safe for your situation. A public checklist is not a personalised safety plan.

Know the emergency contact route: Police 999, or SMS 70999 where speech is unsafe.
Save or memorise NAVH 1800-777-0000 if doing so is safe.
Identify one trusted person or professional who can help with a safe conversation.
Think about urgent needs: medication, children’s needs, mobility and transport.
Keep relevant documents accessible only if this does not increase danger.
Ask an appropriate professional about safe accommodation rather than travelling to an unknown location.
Use a trusted communication channel if accounts or devices are monitored.

Never place evidence collection, account changes or packing above immediate safety. In some circumstances those actions could alert the person causing harm.

What if Money Is Preventing Someone From Leaving?

Financial dependence and housing problems can complicate a safe departure. Tell NAVH or the social service professional that basic living expenses, transport or accommodation are a barrier.

For general household needs, the ComCare assistance system may be relevant, depending on eligibility and assessment. It is separate from urgent domestic-violence safeguarding. You may read Getting Help in Singapore | Financial Assistance and ComCare Applications for the financial assistance route.

If an application requires a contact address, telephone number or family information that could compromise safety, ask the responsible professional how to proceed. Do not publish a private shelter or temporary location online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the domestic violence hotline in Singapore?

The National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) is 1800-777-0000 and operates 24 hours a day.

What if I am in immediate danger?

Call 999 for Police assistance. MSF also identifies SMS 70999 for situations where emergency Police contact is needed but speaking may not be safe.

Can I report suspected child abuse?

Yes. NAVH receives reports about child abuse and other abuse concerns. Provide accurate details of what you know.

Can I ask for help even if I have no visible injury?

Yes. Abuse concerns are not limited to visible injuries. Describe the conduct, threats and your current safety concerns to an appropriate professional.

Can I apply for a PPO without a lawyer?

The Family Justice Courts say a lawyer is not required to file a PPO application. Eligibility and the result depend on the case.

Does the PPO cover any romantic partner?

Not automatically. PPO eligibility involves qualifying family relationships. Check the Courts’ published guidance and obtain advice about other relevant protective routes where needed.

Can NAVH provide an immediate shelter booking?

NAVH can advise and help route people to appropriate support. Crisis shelter access depends on assessment and availability; do not assume it operates like direct accommodation booking.

Should I contact the person accused of abuse to hear their side?

Not if doing so could place anyone at risk or compromise safeguarding. Share concerns with the relevant professionals instead of attempting your own confrontation.

Your Next Useful Action

If anyone is in immediate danger, contact Police at 999 now. Otherwise, if you need a safe first conversation or wish to report suspected abuse, call NAVH 1800-777-0000 and explain who is at risk, where they are and whether a safe response channel is available.

You do not need to decide every legal, housing and family question before seeking help. The first decision is to get appropriate people involved in keeping those at risk safe.

Official Sources and Further Reading

Information checked: 3 November 2026. This independently written guide does not replace Police, clinical care, safeguarding assessment or legal advice. Contacts and procedures should be verified through the relevant official service.

Getting Help in Singapore | Family Violence, Abuse and Emergency Protection