COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECURITY CORPORATION BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

7.16 p.m.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. Wong Lin Ken): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to establish the Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation to take over on a commercial basis the functions of the Guard and Escort Unit constituted under the Police Force Act in providing for guards and escorts as a security service to the commercial and industrial sector.

The Guard and Escort Unit was formed in 1959 from the ranks of the old Special Constabulary and at the outset consisted of the Commandant, 11 Inspectors and 800 Special Constables. The Union performs a wide range of duties including:

(1) guard for important personages;

(2) escorts for payroll and the delivery of cash;

(3) static property and building guards; and

(4) ship guards.

The Unit was constituted primarily for the purpose of providing guards and escorts to Government Departments, thereby leaving the regular policemen to deal with matters pertaining to the preservation of public peace and order. In addition, the Unit also contributes towards crime prevention by offering its services to the private sector on payment.

Apart from the Guard and Escort Unit providing a security service to the commercial and industrial sectors, there are also a number of other private firms in the security business. Despite competition from these firms, the Guard and Escort Unit netted about $2.1 million and $2 million in revenue for the years 1970 and 1971 respectively. This amount was earned by deploying only one-third of the manpower, as the other two-thirds were deployed for unpaid duties and administrative work. It is, therefore, evident that the services of this Unit are heavily in demand and it is envisaged that the trend would continue well into the future. With this in view, the National Productivity Centre was requested in October 1970, to study the feasibility of expanding the Guard and Escort Unit on a commercial basis. The finding of the National Productivity Centre is that it is a viable project.

Many of the payroll and cash-in-transit robberies occurred because of no security guards. On 4th September, 1971, five employees of the Singapore Woollen Knitwear (Private) Limited in Jurong, including two female payroll clerks, were robbed of a sum of about $45,000 at Quality Road while on their way back to the factory from the bank. The firm probably felt that since five persons were accompanying the payroll it was not necessary to have security guards to escort the cash-in-transit. On 1st August, 1970, the Manager of Diamond Theatre at North Bridge Road was robbed of the previous day's collection amounting, to about $10,000 by two youths armed with daggers, when he was on his way to bank in the cash. He also had no security escort. I could cite some more examples, but I think the point is made.

This Bill provides for the establishment of the Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation, which will consist of not less than four and not more than nine members to be appointed by the Minister.

The functions of the Corporation are:-

(a) to provide guard and escort for the protection of persons and property;

(b) to provide such other security services as the Corporation may determine; and

(c) to co-operate as far as practical and necessary with the Singapore Police Force in the performance of its functions under this Act.

The Corporation is empowered to appoint such officers and employees as it considers necessary for the purpose of carrying out its functions, including the appointment of a General Manager.

As it is considered desirable that the services of the Corporation should be available to Government in times of emergency, personnel of the Corporation will continue to carry arms. Clause 12 of the Bill enables the Corporation, with the approval of the Commissioner of Police, to provide its officers and employees with arms, warrant cards and powers and immunities as a Police Officer. Like Police Officers, they will not be allowed to be members of a trade union.

Clause 14 empowers the Commissioner of Police, with the approval of the Minister, to mobilise for active service all or any officers or employees of the Corporation to perform either general or special Police duties. An officer or employee of the Corporation who is so mobilised is liable to perform such service as the Commissioner of Police or his authorised representative directs, and during the period of mobilisation shall have the same powers and duties and the same protection and immunities as a Police Officer.

The transfer of employees from the present Guard and Escort Unit to the Corporation as well as the transfer of rights, liabilities and obligations of the Unit to the Corporation are catered for in clause 15. Those who will be transferred to the Corporation will go over on terms and conditions no less favourable than those they enjoyed immediately prior to their transfer.

The Corporation is empowered under clause 16 to establish a scheme or schemes for the payment of pensions, gratuities, provident fund or other superannuation benefits to its officers and employees.

Financial provisions relating to the Corporation (for example, powers to borrow and invest) are dealt with in clauses 18 to 21.

Clause 23 empowers the Minister to make rules.

Part IX of the Police Force Act relating to the Guard and Escort Unit is repealed.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Prof. Wong Lin Ken].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.