Singapore's legal system is based on the English common law. Singapore is known for harsh punishment of even small crimes such as spitting in the street. Capital punishment is a legal form of punishment in Singapore. The city-state had the highest per-capita execution rate in the world between 1994 and 1999. Caning is used as a form of judicial corporal punishment of men and boys for criminal offences. Illegal entry into Singapore: At least three strokes.

Major crimes against tourists in Singapore are uncommon. Petty crimes such as pick-pocketing and purse or briefcase snatching occur in tourist areas, hotels and at the airport. Globe dwellers should exercise the same caution that they would in any large city. Visitors should be aware that credit card fraud is on the rise and should practice standard precautions to avoid falling victim of credit card fraud: do not carry multiple credit cards on your person; do not allow credit cards to be removed from your sight; avoid giving credit card information over the phone and use only secure internet connections for financial transactions.