Press Releases
16 April 2009
The Police Workplan Seminar 2009 at Republic Polytechnic - Keynote Address by Guest-Of-Honour Mr Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, 16 April 2009
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning
Police: Pillars of Safety, Security and Justice
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) plays a pivotal role in maintaining the safety, security and high quality of life that we enjoy in Singapore. We have preserved our social order because we have a coherent and effective criminal justice system with the Police as one of the key supporting pillars. Your dedication to protecting the community has kept crime under control. Last year’s crime rate was the second lowest in the past two decades. International surveys have consistently ranked Singapore high in its ability to deliver police services and provide security for persons and property.
2 It is precisely because of Police’s critical role in keeping Singapore safe and secure that we must pay attention to the needs of our officers on the ground. The Police have achieved much with a pool of officers who have diligently and dutifully served the public around the clock. Our officers not only perform their core policing duties, they also face an increasingly diverse and demanding public. We recognise that resources are stretched and the Ministry has been working with Police commanders and senior leaders to address this. I am pleased to announce that we will be creating 220 new frontline staff posts at existing frontline Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) to help deal with the workload of the police officers at the frontline.
Key Challenges of the Upcoming Year
Terrorism Remains A Threat
3 Regardless of the amount of resources that we put into policing, these resources will not reduce or lessen the continued threat of terrorism that we continue to face. Although no terrorist plot has succeeded so far, we cannot afford to let our guard down. Singapore continues to be a prized target for terrorists. The recent Mumbai incident whereby the terrorists entered the city via the sea is a grim reminder on how quickly terrorism can hit us without warning, and how devastating the carnage can be.
4 Singapore’s maritime border is porous. Last year, Police Coast Guard (PCG) successfully prevented 245 suspicious crafts from intruding into Singapore’s Territorial Waters. For the first three months of this year, PCG conducted 15 interception operations resulting in the arrest of 35 persons, seizure of 6 boats and about 8100 cartons of cigarettes worth an estimated value of S$737,000. It also chased away 58 suspicious craft. Despite these efforts, intrusion attempts have continued. Maritime security must nevertheless remain one of our top priorities. If illegal immigrants and contraband cigarettes can be smuggled in, so too can terrorists and explosives. The Police Coast Guard will have to step up its vigilance in protecting our waters and coastline.
5 Besides enhancing operational capabilities, we also need to ensure that our laws are updated and relevant to allow the Police to act swiftly and decisively against any terrorist or law and order threat. Parliament has just passed the Public Order Act which, among other matters, provides Police with necessary powers to deal with any security concerns during major events. While the Police and indeed the entire Home Team will continue to enhance our capabilities, our efforts alone will not suffice.
6 Everyone can play a part in national security, including individual citizens, businesses and especially the private security industry. We will be able to further leverage on the support of the private security industry when the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) comes into force at the end of this month. The Act mandates that all security officers and private investigators, including those employed in-house will be licensed individually. This will ensure that all personnel providing security services have the requisite skills and competencies.
Safeguarding Singapore Through This Economic Downturn
7 2009 will be a tough year for all, in light of the economic crisis which we face today. While the overall crime figure has fallen by three percent from Jan to Mar 2009 as compared to the same period last year, unlicensed moneylending harassment cases for the corresponding period almost doubled from 2,066 cases to 3,993 cases , in tandem with the deteriorating economic situation. To step up efforts to combat this public menace, Police have recently acquired more CCTVs which will be installed at harassment-prone sites to detect loan sharks and harassers in the act. Such CCTV footage will also aid Police investigations. In addition, the Ministry will also consider making borrowing from loansharks an offence. This will hold borrowers accountable if their reckless borrowing or gambling habits endanger the safety and security of the community. Moreover, from the arrests made, we know that many borrowers eventually join the loanshark criminal organisation, as runners to carry out harassment and vandalism. We therefore need to stem the problem decisively on the bud.
Challenges on the Horizon
8 Other impending key developments, such as the opening of the Integrated Resorts some time between end 2009 and early 2010 may also attract undesirable elements to Singapore. These elements will heighten the risk of undesirable activities such as money-laundering, cheating, forgery, illegal money-lending and prostitution. But despite the challenges, I am confident that the Police will continue to reinvent and reposition itself. It will reprioritise its operating resources to deal with the new threats. The 33rd NPC, will spearhead the Police’s efforts in maintaining the safety and security of downtown Singapore, including the Integrated Resort. It will be operational in June and temporarily located at the Police Cantonment Complex before moving to the Marina Bay area by the end of this year. The new NPC will eventually be co-located with a new fire station when construction for both are completed in 2012.
New Channels for Communication
9 Police must continue to adapt and evolve, especially in tapping on new technologies and channels to reach out to the community. An example of how Police continues to better communicate with the public is the creation of Police’s Facebook Page. Police’s on-going effort to reach out to younger and Net-savvy Singaporeans through the latest new media platforms is commendable. Fans of this Facebook page can receive regular crime prevention messages from the Police. Those interested in a career with the Police can also find recruitment information while loyal fans of Crime Watch can also find links to older episodes in the portal.
10 In addition, SPF and Straits Times’ RazorTV have also collaborated on an online programme called “i-Witness”. Aside from crime prevention, these short “i-Witness” videos, streamed on RazorTV, also provide a channel for the Police to appeal for information on unsolved crime cases. The first two episodes focus on loan sharks and harassers caught on CCTV and snatch theft against the elderly. The episodes will also be uploaded on SPF channels on Facebook and YouTube, to complement Police’soutreach to the public for assistance through the traditional media.
Greater International Partnership
11 Police’s partnership model is not restricted to the shores of Singapore. The Police are well-plugged into the global policing network. Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui concurrently serves as the President of the INTERPOL. This year, the SPF will also be hosting the 78th INTERPOL General Assembly in October. The SPF will continue to cooperate with its foreign counterparts to strengthen Singapore’s overall security space.
12 The successes of the Police are not achieved by chance. Rather, they are due to institutionalising operational excellence and learning tools at all levels of the organisation. Another critical success factor is the existence of well trained and motivated Police officers, who stand ready to respond to the call of duty. Just as the strength of Singapore is in our people, the same is said of the Police.
Conclusion
13 The Police will remain committed to working with and through the community to address safety and security concerns. I am happy that about 400 community leaders are participating in the evening session of the Police Workplan Seminar. In addition, I understand that there will be a presentation by a business community leader on his participation in Project Guardian[1]. A special discussion on measures to combat the unlicensed moneylending problem will also be held during this evening’s session. Such partnership is essential for the Police and the community to cooperate, collaborate and ultimately, co-create a safe and secure home for all Singaporeans.
14 On that note, I wish you a fruitful seminar and discussion. It is now my pleasure to declare the 2009 Police Workplan Seminar open.
[1] Project Guardian, an adaptation of City Of London’s Project Griffin, is introduced whereby local private security personnel whose training standards are regulated by the Security Industry Regulatory Department (SIRD) of SPF can volunteer or be nominated by their employers for the project. Facilitated by SPF, these private security personnel will undergo enhancement-training to be equipped with the necessary skills to be able to undertake greater emergency functions to augment the Police and help their employers recover from a crisis quickly.
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