Singapore is willing to consider chemical castration to tackle sex crimes if evidence supports it being effective.Home minister K Shanmugam said on Tuesday that the nation was open to considering measures like pharmacological anti-androgen treatments to bring down crime rates. He noted, however, that so far the evidence was not conclusive about the effectiveness of the measure.Mr Shanmugam told parliament that the government took a serious view of sex crimes and imposed tough penalties when called for. He was responding to a question on whether statutory penalties for major sexual offences against children and young persons would be reviewed in the wake of rising cases.Singapore recorded a rise in sexual assault cases in the first six months of 2026, with 762 cases of molestation and 261 of rape, according to The Straits Times.Chemical castration uses suppressants and prescribed medication to reduce sex hormones, namely androgens like testosterone, to suppress sexual arousal. Chemical suppression is used on a voluntary basis in Germany and Denmark and as mandatory form of punishment for some offenders in Poland.Anti-androgen medications are given as injections or pills to block the body’s ability to absorb male hormones.Mr Shanmugam said Singapore could also expand the scope of screening to cover more types of roles involving contact with children and young persons, including voluntary screening for the unregulated sectors.Goh Pei Ming, the senior minister of state for home affairs, said existing checks covered positions like full-time mosque staff, accredited religious teachers, school and preschool employees and registered coaches.Singapore imposes tough penalties for sex crimes and a new sentencing regime, effective from July, targets violent sex offenders and those who pose a substantial risk of re-offending, according to Mr Shanmugam. Rape involving a minor under the age of 14 is punishable with mandatory imprisonment of up to 20 years, while outraging the modesty of a child under 14 is punishable by up to five years in jail, a fine, and caning.Mr Shanmugam said the existing penalties were intended to send a strong signal to deter such offences.