The
Jurong Police Division Headquarters at Jurong West Avenue 5. The Singapore Police Force logo is prominently displayed.
The 'Singapore Police Force' (
Abbreviation: 'SPF';
Chinese: '新加坡警察部队';
Malay: 'Pasukan Polis Singapura') is the main agency tasked with
maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the 'Republic of Singapore Police' (
Abbreviation: 'RSP';
Malay: 'Polis Republik Singapura'), it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force. It enjoys a relatively positive public image,
[1] and is credited for helping to arrest
Singapore's civic unrests and lawlessness in its early years, and maintaining the low crime rate today.
[2]
The organisation structure of the SPF is split between the staff and line functions, roughly modelled after the military
[1]. There are currently 15 staff departments and 13 line units. The headquarters is located in a block at New Phoenix Park in
Novena, adjacent to a twin block occupied by the
Ministry of Home Affairs.
History
Main articles: History of the Singapore Police Force
Early years
The Singapore Police Force has a heritage almost as old as that of modern Singapore, having been formed in
1819 with a skeleton force of 11 men under the command of
Francis James Bernard, son-in-law of
William Farquhar, and kept in operation with a monthly budget of $300. Manpower constraints meant that the men had to perform a wide range of roles, and required the help of headmen amongst the various ethnic communities to maintain orderliness on the streets, all the more possible as the communities lived in segregated areas around the city.
This partnership with the community was in line with Sir
Stamford Raffles' vision of a thriving colony largely self-regulated by local social structures, with the British masters administrating it via indirect rule. The large influx of migrants from China, however, began to test this system when the hands-off approach by the British allowed
secret societies in Singapore to thrive. Although originally formed with legal intentions of community bonding and the provision of assistance to fellow migrants, these societies gradually became influential, competitive, and increasingly engaged in illegal activities including monetary extortion from the masses, the operation of
gambling dens, and the
smuggling of illegal goods on top of more legal commercial operations to meet their financial needs.
Competition gradually heated up between large rival factions, such as that between the larger
Ghee Hin Kongsi, the
Ghee Hock Kongsi and the
Han San Kongsi. Murders, mass riots, kidnappings, arson and other serious crimes became commonplace in the next four decades since the colony's founding. Faced with violent acts of crime which may involve thousands, such as the
funeral riots of
1846 involving 9,000 members from the Ghee Hin and Ghee Hock secret societies, the police force was woefully incapable of bringing the situation under control, and often had to call in the army for assistance. The escalating number of serious crimes prompted the need for stronger legislation to deter would-be criminals. Singapore's first
executions were thus held in the wake of the first criminal session in June
1828, when a Chinese and Indian were found guilty and convicted for
murder.
Headed by Europeans and predominantly staffed by Malay and Indian officers, the force had little Chinese representation as the military and policing professionals were traditionally shunned by the Chinese community, which therefore impaired policing efforts amongst the large Chinese populace. In
1843, the force comprised a sitting
magistrate doubling up as a
superintendent, three European
constables and an assistant native constable, 14 officers and 110 policemen. With a total strength of no more than 150 men, the police was compelled to avoid direct intervention in these mass acts of violence, else risking almost total annihilation.
A repeat of this scenario occurred in
1851, when lingering displeasure against
Roman Catholic ethnic Chinese erupted into major rioting leaving over 500 Chinese dead. The army was called in again, although it involved having to induct Indian convicts into military service almost overnight. In
1854, twelve consecutive days of violence sparked by a dispute between the Hokkiens and Teochews disrupted trade. This particular incident led to the formation of the military's
Singapore Rifle Corps on
8 July 1854, the earliest predecessor of the
Singapore Armed Forces'
People's Defence Force today.
Criminal violence was not merely in the domain of the ethnic Chinese, however. Rivalries between Malay princes and communities also often result in acts of violence, which prompted the passing of Singapore's first
arms law in March
1823 restricting the right to bear arms to 24 of the Malay Sultan's followers. Nearly two centuries later, these anti-arms laws continue to be strictly enforced, resulting in a society relatively free from firearms-related criminal offences.
Incidents
Main articles: List of Singapore police officers killed in the line of duty
Organisation
Police Pledge
We pledge to be loyal and true to the Police service and the Republic of Singapore.
We pledge to uphold the law, to protect life and property, to prevent and detect crime.
We pledge to discharge our responsibilities without fear or favour, regardless of race, language or religion.
We pledge to strive for excellence, to be proactive and to exercise initiative in our duties.
We pledge to serve our community and our country and to be courteous and humane in our dealings with every fellowman.
Police Headquarters
Staff departments
| Department | Abbreviation | Director | Address |
|---|
| Administration and Finance Department | A&F | DAC Koh Yan Hong | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Commercial Affairs Department | CAD | MR Tan Siong Thye | Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road Block D |
| Criminal Investigation Department | CID | SAC Lock Wai Han | Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road Block C |
| Manpower Department | MPD | AC Ng Boon Gay | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Operations Department | OPS | AC Wong Hong Kuan | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Planning and Organisation Department | P&O | SAC Ang Hak Seng | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Police Custodial Department | PCD | AC Jarmal Singh | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Police Intelligence Department | PID | SAC Ng Joo Hee | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Police Logistics Department | PLD | DAC Kuldip Singh | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Police National Service Department | PNSD | AC Rajoo V Gopal | Old Police Academy, 1 Mount Pleasant Road Block 2A |
| Police Technology Department | PTD | MR Kan Siew Ning | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Public Affairs Department | PAD | SAC Vacant | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Security Industry Regulatory Department | SIRD | DAC Anselm Lopez | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Service Development and Inspectorate Department | SDI | AC Teo Kian Teck | New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road |
| Volunteer Special Constabulary | VSC | DAC (V) S Lakshmanan | Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road Block C |
| Traffic Police Department | TP | DAC Ng Guat Ting | 10 Ubi Avenue 3 |
| Training Command | TRACOM | DAC Loy Chye Meng | Home Team Academy, 501 Old Choa Chu Kang Road |
Line units
Manpower
As at
31 March 2006, the total strength of the force stands at 38,587, of which 13,056 are full-time staff. These are broken down into the following categories:
'Full-time'
★ 7,949 Regular Officers
★ 1,246 Civilian Officers
★ 3,861 Police National Service full-time (PNSF)
'Other'
★ 24,349 Police National Servicemen (PNSmen)
★ 1,182 Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) Officers
The full-time uniformed officers are predominantly male, accounting for about 87% of total full-time strength. This is in part due to the all-male profile of PNSFs, although the ratio of female regular officers has been steadily increasing over the years. The force is also dominated by younger officers. Besides the presence of PNSFs who usually serve up to two years typically from age 18, there is also a relatively high turnover rate amongst regular officers.
Regulars
Regulars, or uniformed, full-time officers, constitute about 20% of the police's total workforce.
===Police
national servicemen===
While
national service was introduced in 1967 in Singapore, it was solely geared towards the building up of the
Singapore Armed Forces. There was little urgency in the police force to increase its manpower strength until the
Laju incident in 1974 demonstrated the need for additional trained reserve officers who can be called up at short notice in the event of an emergency. National service was thus extended to the Singapore Police Force in 1975, with the primary aim of guarding key installations and to act as a reserve unit. Subsequent expansion of the scheme, changing security needs, and the trend in
outsourcing installation protection (such as to the
Auxiliary Police Forces) has expanded their role to more functions, which may range from administration, investigation to front-line policing alongside their regular counterparts.
Volunteers
Civlian staff
Staff Welfare
Uniforms
Main articles: Uniforms of the Singapore Police Force
Dark blue (or more accurately
Dacron blue) is the organisational colour of the Singapore Police Force, and has remained so continuously since
1969, although the first police uniforms introduced in
1856 were also in the same colour.
Early uniforms
The earliest law enforcement officers in the fledgling colony of Singapore wore no uniforms, until in
1856, when the
Police Force Act was passed and vested full police powers upon the security forces then in existence, paving the way for uniforms to be introduced. The first uniforms were dark blue-coloured
serge coats, trousers, cap and black shoes. White trousers are used for ceremonial parades and special duty. This proved unpopular as the thick material was deemed too uncomfortable in the local tropical climate. Thus in
1879, a Commission of Enquiry was formed with the task of evaluating the existing uniform, and in
1890,
khaki was formally introduced.
The khaki uniform comprised a black headdress (locally known as the
Songkok), khaki shirt and shorts, black
puttees and boots. Strict regulations requiring them to be heavily starched and ironed produced a cardboard-like material which stood out unnaturally. The white
gaiters were removed as it was difficult to keep them clean, although they remained part of the ceremonial uniform till
1910. As the
Second World War drew to a close in
1945, the khaki uniform was updated with the black
beret replacing the Songkok, and completed by grey flannel top, brown khaki shorts, dark blue hosetops, black boots and leather belt, and a navy blue whistle
lanyard. This uniform became the sole uniform used throughout the force, and was last worn in 1971.
Present uniforms
In
1969, dacron blue made a comeback to the uniform with a force-wide change away from khaki. The new uniform comprises a dark blue peak cap, shirt, trousers, black belt, shoes and socks, and coded whistle lanyard in blue and white. 3 large and 4 small metal buttons, metal collar badges, and a metal cap badge are affixed, and a black plastic name tag completes the uniform. Metallic ranks, if any, are fixed to the sleeve or on the shoulders for senior officers. The lanyard was changed to a metal chain in
1972, and in
1985, the material of the uniform was changed from 75%
polyester 25%
cotton to 100% polyester for a smarter bearing and turnout.
Derivatives of the standard blue uniform (collectively called the no.3 uniform) was adopted for specialised forces and for all officers in various occasions which calls for more formal or casual attire. The
Traffic Police Department was amongst the few to move away from the all-blue attire, adopting a short-sleeved white tunic, dark blue
breeches, a black leather
Sam Browne belt, and riding boots for its officers performing
mobile squad duties. A white crash helmet is worn when on the move, while a new dark blue
jockey cap with chequered white and dark blue patterns around its circumference is worn when convenient while performing static duty. Members of the
Vigilante Corps are also attired by a white short-sleeved top similar in design to the dark blue version for normal officers, gold-coloured buttons and badges, and a dark blue
beret in place of the
peak cap.
Combat uniforms has also been adopted for specialist units such as those from the
Special Operations Command and the
Police Coast Guard (PCG), collectively known as the No.4 uniforms. These involve the replacement of metal buttons with sewn-on plastic ones, the avoidance of all other metallic accruements which are deemed potentially hazardous to the officer or to others and the use of long-sleeved shirts. SOC officers wear combat boots while officers in PCG use lace up leather shoes with non-slip soles. These units also tend to adopt the
beret as their headgear, although PCG officers use the
baseball cap while on operational duties.
There was no major change to the uniform since then, except for the adoption of embroidered shoulder ranks and badges for all ranks in the 1990s. Other changes are less distinct, such as the upgrading of shoes used, the change of the belt material and belt buckle to one including the police crest, and changes to the peak cap to a more durable and ventilated version.
Uniform reviews from 2000 onwards
A series of reviews and changes to the uniforms took place across the various police units from the
2000s onwards. In
2002, the whistle chain was completely removed from all uniforms (except for some uniforms worn by the
Gurkha Contingent) in the police force, the
National Police Cadet Corps, as well as amongst
CISCO officers. The new all-cotton combat uniform for the
Police National Service Key Installation (KINS) Protection Units was introduced in the same year.
Amongst land divisions, the Number 3 uniform (also known as the working dress) was enhanced with the buttons sewn on (instead of using metal rings previously) in
2004, while the name tag was changed from using a metal pin to Velcro for affixing to the uniform. In 2006, riveted buttons, which were considered to be more secure, were introduced to replace the sewn on buttons. The trousers come with additional side pockets mid-way down the thighs with the main purpose of providing a convenient location for the M-pod, a PDA-sized gadget slated to be launched. Separately, the Police Maternity Dress was also introduced.
For the specialist divisions, the
Police Tactical Unit changed their beret from dark blue to red in
2005. The combat uniform was also redesigned to a more loose-fitting attire with utility pockets, and the material changed to a cotton-polyester mix which is more durable and fire resistant. The colour of the uniform is also changed to a darker shade of blue for tactical purposes. High-heel boots with gutters were also introduced. The
Police Coast Guard introduced a new set of uniforms comprising of a helmet, dark blue polo top and bermudas for officers performing patrolling duties on
Pulau Ubin using bicycles. Also their officers will be changing into a combat uniform which is alike to those issue to the Police Tactical Unit.
From
30 September 2005, new duty belts made of
synthetic leather were introduced force-wide, replacing the former belt made of pure leather. Already in use by officers in
Central Police Division on a trial-run basis, the new belt comprises of two layers fastened together by
velcro strips, allowing for equipment to be removed with ease and a more comfortable and lighter fit for front-line officers. The belt, together with the handcuff pouch, bullet pouch, T-baton and revolver holster are now personally issued to all regular and full-time police national servicemen. The old leather belts will, however, continue to be in use during non-front line and administrative duties, as well as during appropriate functions.
Ranks
A standard rank structure is used throughout the police force, although some ranks may be unique to specific organisations. These ranks are denoted where applicable in the following list, which lists them in ascending seniority:
Police officers
The rank of Corporal was abolished in in 1972, but reinstated in 1976. In 1997, all ranks were shifted from the sleeves to the epaulettes, except for the Gurkha Contingent. Also in the same year, the Station Inspector rank was changed from collar pips to epaulettes with a new design similar to that of the SAF Warrant Officers, and the rank of
Senior Station Inspector was introduced. In 1998, the
Senior Station Inspector (2) rank was introduced, and changes were made to the SI, SSI, and SSI(2) rank designs. The rank of Lance Corporal was abolished in 2002. The 2006, the Gurkha Contingent adopted embroidered ranks as part of an overhaul of its combat dress, but are worn on the right front pocket.
[2]
Senior police officers
Weapons and equipment
Police officers in the various divisions are armed when conducting regular uniformed patrols and plainclothes duties. A force-wide change from the
Smith & Wesson .38 revolver to the
Taurus Model 85 was undertaken in August
2002, featuring a laser sight and a new snatch-resistant
holster. A new
speedloader was introduced in the same year to replace the old bullet pouch, allowing for quicker reloading of the revolvers and reducing the likelihood of misplaced bullets. In
2001, the
Monadnock PR-21 side handle baton (more commonly known as the
T-baton) replaced the wooden batons and retractable nightsticks to enhance their defensive capabilities.
In addition, each officer is issued with one pair of
handcuffs and a digital radio set for communication purposes. A trial of individual
palmtops (called mPOD), developed from the
Hewlett-Packard Jornada 928, which allows officers to screen persons and vehicles on the go without having to rely on radio communication. There are currently no plans to rollout the mPOD forcewide as the results of the trial were not considered favourable.
Also currently on trial by officers from
Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre and
Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre is the
Taser X26 stun gun, which provides another non-lethal means of subduing suspects.
Strict enforcement of anti-arm laws which are in existence in Singapore since
1823 has resulted in a relatively gun-free society, where firearms-related crimes are rare. It is therefore not an operational requirement for police officers to don
bulletproof vests when conducting normal policing duties. However, these vests are carried in police vehicles and stocked in police establishments and can be rapidly utilised should the situation requires it. From
2004, new multi-purpose vests were introduced which offer the officer protection against most handgun fire, knife thrusts, as well as doubling up as a buoyancy vests should the officer fall into deep water.
In 2006, the Singapore Police Force acquired new firearms for the Special Operations Command, namely the
Sphinx 3000 pistol. Prior to this, the standard issue for the SOC was the Sig Sauer P226 pistol, also operated by the Singapore Armed Forces.
Glock 19 and
Heckler & Koch USP pistols are also known to be used by
Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR),
Security Command and the Police Coast Guard's
Special Task Squadron.
Vehicles
Land division officers typically respond to calls in rapid-deployment vehicles known as the
Fast Response Car (FRC). The SPF have been staunch users of Japanese-made
saloon cars since the 1980's for patrol duties, with the mainstay models in use being the various generations of the
Mitsubishi Lancers,
Mazda 323s and
Toyota Corollas. At the turn of the century they have also included
Nissan Sunnys, and most recently acquired
Subaru Impreza sedans (not to be confused with the
Subaru Impreza WRX used by the
Traffic Police). All FRCs carry a large array of equipment to allow officers to conduct normal policing duties and basic investigative work which officers are expected to perform with the implementation of the
Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) system. A typical FRC vehicle may therefore stock equipment for the force-opening of locked doors, conducting
roadblocks,
fingerprint collection, and the provision of
first aid. On top of these, chemical agent protection equipment and bulletproof vests are also carried for the officer's protection.
In
2002, the
Enhanced Patrol Vehicle Project was unveiled at the SPF's annual workplan seminar to highlight the need for off-road capability. The
Volvo V70 AWD XC,
Mitsubishi Space Wagon and
Mitsubishi Chariot underwent evaluation in various NPCs. Eventually, all NPCs were to have at least three of such vehicles. This project was met with skepticism by some of the public, stating that the police need not use such "luxurious vehicles" for police patrols.
Other vehicles typically used in NPCs include the
scooters and
vans. Bicycles, although currently less seen, are still used by land division officers occasionally, particularly when conducting routine patrols in large, sprawling private housing estates. From
2004, the new
Fast Response Vehicle (FRV) was introduced. Consisting of modified
Toyota Hi-Lux sport utility vehicles, it utilises diesel-power which provide greater ability to endure high usage on the roads over extensive periods of time. Their bigger storage space also allows for easier storage and retrieval of equipment.
At
NDP 2007, the Singapore Police Force unveiled a
Tenix S600 APC (
Armored Personnel Carrier) had been purchased for its operations for the Special Operations Command.
''For weaponry, equipment and vehicles of the various specialist forces, please see their respective pages for details.''
==
Auxiliary Police Forces==
★
Aetos Security Management Private Limited (CIAS / PSA / ST Kinetics)
★
CISCO Security Private Limited
★
Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) Auxiliary Police Force
★
Corporate Security and Revenue Scrutiny (CREUNCSE) Auxiliary Police Force
In popular culture
===
Books===
★ ''
In the service of the nation'',
1985
★ '',
1987
★ '',
1998
★ ''
Policing Singapore in the 19th & 20th centuries'',
2002
★ ''
Justice is Done'',
2005
★ ''
The Adventures of Constable Acai,
1987: A series of crime stories, based on actual crimes from police files were compiled into story books from the popular children's magazine
Young Generation, about the adventures of a fictional policeman named Constable Acai. They were written by officers from the
Crime Prevention Department to instill crime awareness in children during the 80's through to the mid 90's. The other books in this series are as below:
★ ''
More Adventures of Constable Acai,
1989
★ ''
Constable Acai Fights Crime,
1996
===
Novels===
★ ''
Operation Firestorm'',
1997
===
Periodicals===
★ ''
Singapore Police Magazine''
★ ''
Police Life'',
1971 to present
★ ''
Police Life Annual''
===Non-Fictional
television programs===
★ ''
Crimewatch'', 1986-2007
★ ''
True Files'', 2002-2007
===Fictional
television programs===
★ ''
Seletar Robbery'' (实里达大劫案),
1982
★ ''
CID '83'',
1983
★ ''
First Step'' (踏上征途),
1986: On women in the police force
★ ''
Patrol'' (铁警雄风),
1989: A take on the lives of the men in the
Traffic Police Department
★ ''
Crime and Passion'' (執法先鋒),
1991
★ ''
Triple Nine'', 1995-1998: On the adventures of a CID team.
★ ''
City Cops'' (城市双雄),
1996
★ ''
Of Cops And Men'' (警网双雄),
1996
★ ''
Dare To Strike'' (扫冰者),
14 November 2000: the phrase "Dare to Strike" is the motto of the
Central Narcotics Bureau
★ ''
The Reunion'' (顶天立地),
26 December 2001
★ ''
Heartlanders'', 2002-2005: On two
Neighbourhood Police Centre officers
★ ''
True Heroes'' (城市英雄),
5 May 2003: On a rookie
Neighbourhood Police Centre officer
★ ''
The Frontline'' (家在前线),
2003: This fictional six-part TV show depicts how Singaporeans cope after the German mastermind of a neo-anarchist organisation sets off a bomb at a naval base as an anti-imperialistic statement against Singapore's ties with the United States. It showcases the capabilities of the Singapore Police Force and the
Singapore Armed Forces to deal with terrorism. It must be noted that many technologies introduced in this series has never been before shown to the public. It is also the only local television series to date to accurately depict the Police's elite
Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) team and the Army's
Special Operations Forces (SOF) although the latter unit was never addressed by name in the show. They were instead referred to as "The Commandos".
★ ''
Life Line'', 2005-2007
★ ''
Without Warning'', 2006
★ ''
C.I.D.'' (刑警2人组),
12 June 2006
★ ''
Metamorphosis'' (破茧而出), 2007 (coming in Sept)
===
Movies===
★ ''
The Last Blood'' (驚天十二小時),
1991
★ ''
2000 AD'' (公元2000),
1999[3]
★ ''
After School'' (放学后),
2004: A film released by the
National Crime Prevention Council to harness the power of cinema as a public education tool to reach out to young Singaporeans and their families.
See also
★
Awards and decorations of the Singapore Police Force
★
Establishments and installations of the Singapore Police Force
★
List of Singapore police officers killed in the line of duty
★
Major crimes in Singapore
★
Law enforcement in Singapore
★
List of law enforcement agencies
★
National Police Cadet Corps
★
Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
References
★ "In the Service of the Nation", John Drysdale, Federal Publications, 1985 ISBN 9971-4-0703-5
★ "Phoenix: the story of the Home Team ", Felix Soh, Times Editions, 2003 ISBN 981-232-637-5
★ "Policing Singapore in the 19th & 20th centuries", Peer M. Akbur, Singapore Police Force, 2002 ISBN 981-04-7024-X
★ "Singapore Police Force Annual", Singapore Police Force, several editions
Notes
1. Good job, police
2. Singapore is so safe some don't even lock up: survey
3. Aaron Kwok stole police car in S'pore?
External links
★
Singapore Police Force
★
Organization, Recruitment, and Training of Police
★
Public Order and Internal Security (1989)
★
Singapore Police Force Band
★
Training the Police
★
Police-related Singapore news
★
Crossing the generation gap
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