Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) in Singapore: Orders and Offences

The Protection from Harassment Act 2014, usually shortened to POHA, is the main law dealing with harassment, stalking and doxxing in Singapore. It works on two levels at once: it makes certain conduct a criminal offence, and it lets a victim ask the court for a civil order to stop the conduct. This guide sets out the offences, the two protection orders, and the recent changes, and corrects a common myth about how long an urgent order lasts.

This is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate and solicitor about your situation.

Information last verified on 23 July 2026. This page provides general legal information about Singapore law and is not legal advice in an individual case.

What POHA covers

POHA sets out a range of offences in its early sections. Section 3 covers intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress through threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, and it includes a specific limb for publishing another person's identity information, which is the doxxing offence. Section 4 covers the same kind of conduct on an objective test, without needing to prove intent.

Section 5 deals with causing fear or provocation of violence, and section 7 deals with unlawful stalking, which is a course of conduct such as repeated following, unwanted communication or loitering near a person's home or workplace. Section 6 covers offences against public servants and public service workers.

The base penalties are set out in the Act and generally involve a fine, and for some offences a term of imprisonment as well. Enhanced penalties apply for repeat offenders and where the victim is vulnerable or in an intimate relationship with the offender. Because the exact penalty depends on the section and the circumstances, the safest course is to read the offence provisions in the Act itself.

Protection Orders

A Protection Order, or PO, is the main civil remedy under POHA. Under section 12, the court may grant a PO if it is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the respondent has committed a POHA offence against the victim and that the respondent is likely to continue or repeat the conduct.

A PO can do more than simply tell the respondent to stop. The court can prohibit specific conduct, order that an offending communication be stopped or taken down, refer the parties to counselling or mediation, and in a shared-home situation grant one party exclusive occupation of part of the residence. The Act does not fix a single duration for a PO. Under section 12 the order lasts for the period the court specifies, and it can later be varied or extended on application.

Breaching a Protection Order or an Expedited Protection Order is itself an offence under section 10 of the Act.

Expedited Protection Orders and the 28-day myth

Where the situation is urgent, the court can grant an Expedited Protection Order, or EPO, under section 13. An EPO is an interim measure granted on a lower, prima facie standard, where the conduct is likely to continue and would have a substantial adverse effect on the victim, and it is just and equitable to act quickly.

A widely repeated claim is that an EPO lasts 28 days. Since the Protection from Harassment Court began operating on 1 June 2021, that is no longer correct. Under section 13, an EPO now continues in effect until the underlying application for a Protection Order is determined or discontinued, or until the EPO is suspended or cancelled. In other words, it bridges the gap until the full PO hearing, rather than expiring on a fixed timetable.

The 28-day figure in the Act refers to something different. Under section 13(3B), it is the deadline for the respondent to apply to vary, suspend or cancel the EPO. The respondent must generally bring that challenge within 28 days after the EPO takes effect, unless the court grants permission to do so later. So the 28 days is the respondent's window to challenge the order, not the order's lifespan.

The Protection from Harassment Court

POHA matters are handled by the Protection from Harassment Court, a specialist court established within the State Courts by designating District Courts to hear these cases. It has operated since 1 June 2021 and has both the civil and the criminal jurisdiction needed to deal with harassment applications and prosecutions in one place. It is a distinct forum from the Small Claims Tribunal, which handles ordinary money claims rather than harassment.

The 2026 online safety changes

POHA was amended again by the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025, with the harassment-related provisions coming into force on 29 June 2026. Three changes stand out.

First, the unlawful stalking offence was extended to online conduct, so that following a victim into the online spaces they use, or persistently making a presence felt online, can now fall within stalking. Second, a court can award enhanced damages in a civil claim where online harassment continued after the victim made a reasonable written request to stop. Third, the Act introduced administrator orders, which allow a court to require the administrator of an online space, such as a forum or a social-media group, to stop the publishing of, or to correct, an offending communication, not just the classic internet intermediaries.

Where to go next

For disputes with a neighbour over noise, smell or obstruction, which are handled under a separate law and a separate tribunal, see the noise complaints and neighbour disputes guide. The overview of both regimes is on the harassment and neighbour disputes section page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an Expedited Protection Order last in Singapore?

Since the Protection from Harassment Court began operating on 1 June 2021, an Expedited Protection Order runs until the underlying Protection Order application is determined or discontinued, or until the order is suspended or cancelled. It is not limited to 28 days. The 28-day figure in section 13(3B) is the respondent's deadline to apply to challenge the order, not the order's lifespan.

What is the difference between a Protection Order and an Expedited Protection Order?

A Protection Order is the main civil order under POHA, granted after the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that a harassment offence was committed and is likely to continue. An Expedited Protection Order is an urgent interim order granted on a lower prima facie standard to protect the victim until the full Protection Order application is decided.

Is doxxing a crime under POHA?

Yes. Publishing another person's identity information in a way that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress is an offence under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014, added by the 2019 amendments. It is a specific limb of the section 3 offence rather than a separate numbered offence.

Does POHA cover online stalking?

Yes, more clearly since 29 June 2026. The Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 extended the unlawful stalking offence to online conduct, such as following a victim into the online spaces they use or persistently making a presence felt online. Earlier conduct was still capable of amounting to stalking, but the 2026 changes address online behaviour directly.

What can a Protection Order require the other person to do?

Under section 12 of POHA, a Protection Order can prohibit specified conduct, order that an offending communication be stopped or taken down, refer the parties to counselling or mediation, and in a shared-home situation grant one party exclusive occupation of part of the residence. The order lasts for the period the court specifies and can be varied or extended later.