ASP Alden Tan (English) DSP Alvin Quek (English) DSP Benjamin Tan (English) DSP James Goh (English) DSP Joshua Jesudason (English) DSP Azfer Ali Khan (English) ASP Jelene Ong Wee Suan (Mandarin) DSP Koh Chao Rong (Mandarin) SUPT Ong Ruo Cheng (Mandarin) DSP Tay Yuanqi (Mandarin) DSP Muhamad Omar Shariff (Malay) ASP Kalaichelvan Daniel (Tamil)
Presented by actual serving regular police officers, it showcases the work of the Singapore Police Force including the re-enactments of major solved cases, appeals for unsolved cases, as well as general crime prevention advice in a Singaporean context.
The series first premiered on the English-languageChannel 5 on 30 November 1986. Subsequent dubbings of Singapore's other official languages began with Mandarin (绳之以法) on 7 December on Channel 8 that year. The series later implemented Malay dubs for Suria (Jejak Jenayah) starting on 1 April 2000,[1] followed by Tamil's Vasantham (Kutra Kannkaanippu) in 2001.
History
Crimewatch first premiered on 30 November 1986 with the first case located in Ang Mo Kio that features an unsolved murder of a 19-year-old national serviceman and a public appeal from the victim's parents. Less than two weeks after the episode was broadcast, police were able to identify and arrest the suspects based on information provided by viewers responding to the appeal. The episode also contained a police appeal for information regarding the case of two missing boys Toh Hong Huat and Keh Chin Ann and another murder case.[2] The series was met with positive reception and it aired on a quarter yearly basis. However, since 1993 with six episodes, it has since aired on a monthly basis before extending to ten episodes the following year. The series aired with only Mandarin dubbing from the start of the series, but it has since been extended to Malay and Tamil in 2001.
The 2012 season was preceded by a retrospective special titled Crimewatch 25th Anniversary Special airing 19 February 2012 revisiting the series' most memorable moments and interviews by the cast. The special was hosted by television actor Tay Ping Hui, who also performed in numerous crime television series such as C.L.I.F. The 2012 season was also the first season to not feature narration which was implemented since the series' start.
Episodes in English and Mandarin after 1993 and episodes in Malay and Tamil after 2013 can be found on meWATCH, the Singapore Police Force's YouTube channel (presented in two parts) and Mediacorp's Youtube channel (only the 2010 and current 2023 version is available). However, most episodes prior to 1993 can only be viewed exclusively on demand at National Archives of Singapore (NAS).
Production for the 2020 season was postponed for two months from May to June due to the COVID-19 pandemic; reruns of selected episodes took the place of the affected episodes. Due to this postponement, the 2020 season marked the first time the show aired episodes in the months of January and February.[citation needed]
The 2021 season premiered on 25 April 2021, making it the first season to not premiere in March.[3] Production for the 2021 season was also postponed for a month in July due to the COVID-19 pandemic and no new episodes were aired. The 2022 season premiered on 25 April 2022, the second season to not premiere in March.
However, airings of the 2022 season were postponed in September due to the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix. The 2023 season reverted back to its usual premiere date in March, after the 2022 season ends in February.
Each season of Crimewatch consists of ten episodes (four episodes each for seasons 1987 till 1992, and six episodes for 1993) usually aired near the end of every month between March and December every year. The English version is aired on the third or fourth Sunday, and the Mandarin version is aired on the last Friday of the same month. The Malay and Tamil versions are aired on the first Monday and Thursday of the following month respectively.
Most episodes feature a reenactment of crimes that occurred in Singapore that plays for the entirety of the episode, followed by a short segment on other advisories (such as the annual Great Singapore Sale). The segment ends with the presenter narrating the sentences given to the featured criminals (until Crimewatch 2022 Episode 1 for English & Chinese versions) and offering advice to the public for their own protection and safety related to that particular segment. However starting from Crimewatch 2022 Episode 2 (English & Chinese versions), it no longer presents the sentences given to the featured criminals on digital platforms, but still shows them on TV on airdate.
Recent episodes also feature information on scams, including mechanisms, statistics and advice from various government agencies and non-governmental organisations, such as those from the Singapore Police Force's Criminal Investigation Department and the National Crime Prevention Council.
Hosts
As of 2024, the current presenters for the English version of the series include Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) James Goh (2018-), DSP Joshua Jesudason (2021-), DSP Azfer Ali Khan (2022-), DSP Benjamin Tan (2023-), DSP Alvin Quek (2024-) and ASP Alden Tan (2024-)
The presenters for the Mandarin version are presented by DSP Koh Chao Rong (2016-), ASP Jelene Ong Wee Suan (2022-), SUPT Ong Ruo Cheng (2019-) and DSP Tay Yuanqi (2020-).
The Malay version is presented by DSP Muhamad Omar Shariff, ASP Roslinah Rahmat, DSP Azlinda Aziz & ASP Mohd Fadzil Mohd Hisum; and the Tamil version by ASP Kalaichelvan Daniel.
Former studio hosts (SBC-Mediacorp) (Co-hosts with SPF representative)
Reginald Chua & Christine Lim (1986-1987)
Chen Yinglai (1986-1988) (Concurrent with Mo Yanlan, Mandarin version)
Ernest Seow (as various IOs/SIOs between 2011 - 2016)
Alan Tan Yee Ming (as Loh Ngut Fong, Crimewatch 1993 Episode 4: Singapore most notorious kidnapper - Fong & Ho Kien 'Jayson' Leong, Crimewatch 2011 Episode 2: Ho Kien 'Jayson' Leong murder)
Shanice Koh
Kelvin Ho
Denise Camillia Tan (as IO Jennifer, Crimewatch 2022 Episode 7: Drug Trafficking & SIO Tian Tai Hua, Crimewatch 2024 Episode 5: Affray)
Andrew Lua (as various SIOs in 2022 Episode 4, 2023 Episode 6 & 2024 Episode 6)
Joey Tay Yu Rong (as IO Hannah, Crimewatch 2024 Episode 6: Sales of Payment Account with Money Mules)
Faizal Aziz (as Royal Malaysian Officer in 2015 Episode 10 & 2017 Episode 5 | Muhammed Hairil Bin Rahamat (Boby Tricep), Crimewatch 2021 Episode 10: 8 Men Rioting | Muhammad Firdaus Bin Abdullah (Nick), Crimewatch 2024 Episode 5: Affray)
Hanrey Low
Wayne Lee
Ho Cheng Yi
Kelvin Ho
Vincent Tee
Wang Yu Qing (as Lee Kah Yeow, Crimewatch 2020 Episode 8: Armed Robbery)
Stella Tan (as various IOs/SIOs in 2020 Episode 4, 2021 Episode 3, 2022 Episode 9 & 2023 Episode 3)
Nicholas Lee (as Leslie Khoo, Crimewatch 2020 Episode 5, Missing & Murdered)
Laura Kee (as various IOs/SIOs in 2015 Episode 6, 2018 Episode 1, 2022 Episode 10 & 2024 Episode 2)
James Kumar (as SIO Mano Ranjan, Crimewatch 2022 Episode 10: Serangoon Road Slashing)
In popular culture
Crimewatch has been seen by most Singaporeans as one of the best shows on local television, mainly due to its entertainment value and often unintentional "meme-worthy scenes".[10] Subsequently, many clips from the show had also gone viral outside of Singapore, leading to international interest in the show.[10]
In 2021, a clip from Episode 10 of Season 12, that first aired in 1998, went viral on TikTok as well as on other parts of the internet, becoming an internet meme.[11] It consisted of quick fast cuts of a middle-aged woman looking distressed in various camera angles after being robbed of her necklace. Subsequently, the clip had a serious voice-over saying: "The woman was too stunned to speak." The voice-over itself also became used in a variety of different contexts as an internet meme.[11]
In 2022, a clip from Episode 3 of Season 27, that first aired in 2013, went viral on Twitter.[12] It consisted of two Ah Lians having an argument at a playground after one of them became offended by a remark made by the other. One of the women, played by Jernelle Oh, had stated, "Why not? You're nothing but a prostitute." and the other, played by Shanice Koh, replied "How dare you call me a prostitute?!" and added "But you are!'' the other one (Koh) replies ''You better say sorry," but Oh retaliates, "Why should I? Go to hell." They both subsequently agreed to "settle tomorrow, 4pm at Pioneer Mall", leading to a "gang fight" between their group of two "gang groups": 'Black Spider' and 'Scorpion Gang'.[12] It also went viral on TikTok with both Singaporeans and international artists creating their own spin-offs.[12] The two local artists from the original clip, Shanice Koh and Jernelle Oh, would also re-enact the scene and uploaded a TikTok duet in response to the clip resurfacing.[13]
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