Statute Details
- Title: Place of Detention
- Act Code: CYPA1993-S205-2006
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Children and Young Persons Act (Chapter 38)
- Key Enabling Provision: Section 55 of the Children and Young Persons Act
- Singapore Girls’ Home Address (appointed place): 1 Defu Avenue 1, Singapore 359540
- Commencement / Effective Date: 1 April 2006
- Cancellation of prior notification: Place of Detention Notification (N 13) cancelled with effect from 14 April 2006
- Current version status (as provided): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Instrument Reference: No. S 205
- Publication / Version date shown: 1 April 2006 (SL 205/2006)
What Is This Legislation About?
The “Place of Detention” subsidiary legislation is a formal notification made under the Children and Young Persons Act (“CYPA”). In plain terms, it identifies a specific institution that the Minister has appointed to serve as a “place of detention” for children and young persons who are detained under the CYPA.
While the CYPA sets out the substantive framework for detention (including when it may be ordered and the legal consequences for detained young persons), this particular instrument addresses a practical administrative requirement: which premises are authorised to function as the detention facility. The notification therefore matters to practitioners because it links the statutory detention power to an actual, named place.
In this case, the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports appointed the Singapore Girls’ Home as a place of detention for the purposes of the CYPA, effective from 1 April 2006. It also provides for the cancellation of an earlier place-of-detention notification (N 13), effective from 14 April 2006, ensuring that the legal authorisation for detention premises is updated and not duplicated.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Appointment of a place of detention (effective 1 April 2006)
The core operative provision is the Minister’s appointment of the Singapore Girls’ Home, at the specified address, to be a place of detention “for the purposes of the Act”. The notification states that this appointment is made “in exercise of the powers conferred by section 55 of the Children and Young Persons Act”.
For practitioners, the legal significance is straightforward: once a place is appointed under section 55, it becomes the authorised detention facility for the CYPA detention regime. This can be relevant in proceedings where the legality of detention, the handling of detained persons, or the administrative basis for detention is questioned. The appointment also provides clarity for correctional and welfare authorities, and for counsel advising families about where detention will occur.
2. Cancellation of the earlier place-of-detention notification (effective 14 April 2006)
The instrument further provides that the “Place of Detention Notification (N 13)” is cancelled with effect from 14 April 2006. This is an important housekeeping and legal certainty measure. It prevents the continued operation of an older authorisation that would otherwise remain on the record.
From a legal drafting perspective, cancellation provisions are crucial because they avoid ambiguity about which facility is currently authorised. If a detained young person were held at a facility under an earlier notification, the cancellation date helps determine whether the authorisation remained valid up to that point and whether any transitional arrangements were necessary.
3. Reliance on section 55 of the CYPA
The notification is expressly grounded in the statutory power in section 55 of the CYPA. Even though the extract does not reproduce section 55 itself, the reference indicates that the Minister’s authority to appoint places of detention is statutory and not merely discretionary. This matters for legal validity: if the appointment were made without the statutory power, it could be challenged. Here, the instrument signals compliance with the enabling provision.
In practice, counsel may need to confirm that the appointment was properly made by the correct Minister, under the correct statutory authority, and with the correct effective date. The notification’s enacting formula and enabling reference are therefore part of the legal “chain of authority” supporting detention operations.
4. Administrative and evidential value
Although the instrument is brief, it has evidential value. It is a published legal instrument (“No. S 205”) that can be cited to show the authorised detention premises at a given time. In disputes—whether in judicial review, habeas corpus-type contexts, or appeals involving detention orders—documentary proof of the authorised place can be critical.
Practitioners should also note that the instrument’s effective dates create a timeline for validity. The appointment begins on 1 April 2006, while the cancellation of N 13 begins on 14 April 2006. This suggests a period where the new appointment is effective while the old notification is still formally in force until the later cancellation date. The legal effect of that overlap will depend on how detention operations were managed, but the dates are clearly stated and can be used to resolve factual questions.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This subsidiary legislation is structured as a short notification with:
(a) A heading and status information indicating it is a “Place of Detention” instrument and showing the current version status as at 27 March 2026.
(b) An enacting formula / enabling statement that identifies the statutory power under section 55 of the CYPA and the Minister making the appointment.
(c) Two numbered operative paragraphs:
- Paragraph 1: appointment of the Singapore Girls’ Home as a place of detention, effective 1 April 2006.
- Paragraph 2: cancellation of the earlier Place of Detention Notification (N 13), effective 14 April 2006.
(d) Citation and administrative references (including internal references such as “MCYS 133-03-79 V16; AG/LEG/SL/38/2005/1 Vol. 1” as shown in the extract). These references are typical in Singapore subsidiary legislation and can assist in locating drafting or administrative records.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The instrument applies to the administration of detention under the CYPA. It does not, by itself, create detention orders against particular individuals; rather, it authorises a specific institution to be used as the detention facility when detention is ordered under the CYPA.
Accordingly, the practical “audience” includes: (1) the authorities responsible for executing detention orders; (2) legal representatives advising detained young persons or their families; and (3) any court or tribunal assessing whether detention was carried out in accordance with the CYPA framework. The young persons affected are those who fall within the CYPA’s detention regime, but the appointment is directed at the place where detention may occur.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this subsidiary legislation is short, it is important because detention is a highly intrusive measure. In the rule-of-law context, the legality of detention depends not only on the existence of a detention order, but also on the lawful authorisation of the place where detention is carried out. This instrument provides that authorisation by naming the Singapore Girls’ Home as a place of detention under the CYPA.
For practitioners, the key value lies in its ability to support or challenge factual and legal assertions about detention logistics. For example, if there is a dispute about where a young person was held, counsel can consult the relevant “place of detention” notifications to determine whether the facility was authorised at the relevant time. The stated effective dates—1 April 2006 for the appointment and 14 April 2006 for the cancellation of the earlier notification—allow precise timeline analysis.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the notification also ensures that detention facilities remain current and properly designated. The cancellation of N 13 reflects a deliberate transition: it prevents outdated authorisations from continuing indefinitely and helps maintain administrative clarity. This reduces the risk of procedural irregularities and supports consistent implementation of the CYPA.
Related Legislation
- Children and Young Persons Act (Chapter 38) — in particular, section 55 (power to appoint places of detention)
- Place of Detention Notification (N 13) — cancelled by this instrument with effect from 14 April 2006
- Timeline / Legislation versions — to confirm the applicable version as at the relevant date of detention or proceedings
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Place of Detention for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.