POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE COURSE OF DUTY

POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE COURSE OF DUTY:

(Compensation to next-of-kin): 14.

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what amount or range of compensation is paid by the Government to the next-of-kin of police officers who are killed in the course of duty.

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Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, every case of a police officer killed in the line of duty is indeed a sad one. Our sympathies are with the bereaved families. These officers had put their lives at risk to keep Singapore safe.

When an officer dies in the course of his work, every effort is taken to ensure that the officer's next-of-kin is taken care of, not only in terms of monetary compensation, but also through psychological and welfare support.

The Pensions Act, together with the Pensions Regulations and the Home Affairs Uniformed Services (HUS) (INVEST Plan) Regulations, depending on which scheme of service the officer is on, ensures that the officer's family is adequately compensated.

Sir, for officers on the Pension scheme, there is a death gratuity lump-sum, the quantum of which would depend on the officer's last drawn salary. For officers on the HUS (INVEST) scheme, the officer's family will receive the total balance in the officer's INVEST Retention and Retirement Accounts or one year's salary, whichever is higher. In addition to these payments, the officer's family may also receive a payout of up to $111,000 under the Workmen's Compensation Act.

Sir, for married officers, the officer's widow will receive monthly dependents' pension of one-third of the officer's pensionable emoluments, and his children, up to 18 years of age, will receive monthly dependents' pension of one-fifteenth of the officer's pensionable emoluments.

On top of all these, officers are also covered under a basic group term life insurance and personal accident insurance package, with a payout of $180,000 for deaths. Officers who had opted for additional coverage will receive higher payouts.

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The Police Central Welfare Fund will also provide the families an immediate bereavement grant of $4,000 to help defray the cost of the funeral arrangements as well as, for the longer term, provide annual grants for the officer's children's education.

In addition to these monetary compensation items, the SPF provides emotional and psychological support through its psychologists and trained paracounsellors. They will be in touch with the officer's family right from the onset. Colleagues and paracounsellors from the officer's unit will also provide logistical and emotional support during the funeral wake and indeed thereafter.

Sir, as losing a police officer in the line of duty is indeed tragic, let me assure Ms Lim that we will provide all means of assistance to help the officer's family when it happens.