ORDERLIES FOR GAZETTED POLICE OFFICERS (Particulars)

Mr N. Govindasamy asked the Minister for Defence (a) what is the number of gazetted Police officers who are provided with orderlies: (b) how many of them are engaged (i) in field work which necessitates the use of orderlies; and (ii) in administrative work which does not necessitate the use of orderlies: (c) whether probationary Assistant Superintendents of Police, who are performing the duties of Inspectors and while carrying out routine investigations accompanied by Inspectors, are also provided with orderlies: (d) whether gazetted officers, who are serving in the Reserve Units and who have the use of Riot Squad vans for carrying out field work are also provided with orderlies: (e) what is the average salary of those orderlies and what form of training they have to undergo; (f) how do these orderlies spend their working hours when they are not driving their officers on duty, and whether there are definite instructions to ensure that those orderlies are kept fully occupied during their working hours; and (g) whether he will consider setting up a common pool of drivers/orderlies for the use of officers who are engaged in field work instead of providing drivers/orderlies to every gazetted officer irrespective of the nature of work he is engaged in.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, the authorised strength of gazetted Police officers is 205 but the actual strength is 192. At present, 164 gazetted Police officers are supplied with personal orderlies.

At present, 134 gazetted Police officers are engaged in field work and 29 gazetted Police officers are engaged in administrative work. However, administrative officers are also required to perform various types of outdoor duties depending upon the circumstances prevailing at the time.

Probationary Assistant Superintendents of Police are provided with personal orderlies as a general rule except whilst they are under training at the Police Training School. Normally, Probationary Assistant Superintendents performing the duties of inspectors are not accompanied by inspectors.

As regards the question of whether gazetted officers who are serving in the Reserve Units and who have the use of Riot Squad vans for carrying out field work are also provided with orderlies, the answer is "Yes".

The average salary of these orderlies is $228.63 per month. Their training syllabus is similar in all respects to that of the regular police constables.

Apart from driving their officers, the duties of officers' personal orderlies drivers include care and maintenance of officers' uniform and equipment, accompanying officers on rounds or other police duties, acting as messengers, drivers, personal assistants or witnesses when accompanying officers at all times and such other duties as the officers may direct.

I am now holding discussions with the Police Adviser with a view to stopping this practice of supplying all gazetted Police officers with orderlies.