MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

Modernisation of the Police

With the implementation of the new salaries and conditions of service of junior officers, the Police Force will have officers of better quality and educational standards.

Personnel

(a) By the end of 1974, all junior officers without a Secondary II education will have been retired. Those who wish to may join in the newly established Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation. The consequential vacancies will be filled by recruitment of junior officers with School Certificate education or its equivalent.

(b) The reorganisation of the Police Force involves a considerable devolution of responsibilities and duties on to sergeants and constables. These duties had formerly been performed by inspectors and sergeants respectively. A flew training programme designed to develop and increase the capacity of junior officers to fulfil these functions is already underway. It should be completed over the next three years. Once this devolution of responsibilities has been completed, it will be necessary to review the officer structure and strength of the Police Force.

Criminal investigation

A centralised Criminal Intelligence Unit has been the subject of detailed study by a committee. Their recommendations have been accepted for implementation.

An adviser on criminal investigation is being appointed from the United Kingdom Police, with the specific objective of upgrading investigative skills in the Criminal Investigation Department as well as improving the standards of detective training.

The forensic capability available to the Police Force is developing in close co-ordination with the Chemistry Department.

Prevention of Crime

Beginning from 1973, a system of team policing will be introduced in two Divisions to replace the traditional beat system. Team policing involves much more use of transport and communications. But it can achieve flexibility in crime prevention patrols. If this system is successful under Singapore conditions, team policing will replace traditional beat system in all Divisions.

Physical Development

The operational organisation and deployment of the Police requires that police stations and establishments be strategically distributed throughout the island. Economic development and the building of new towns and housing estates have led to large scale population movements. This has rendered the existing distribution of police stations out of date. Further, new roads and new transport patterns and the latest developments in electronic communications make for a new layout of control between the policemen on patrol, the patrol car, Police HQ and the plan for new police stations. These changes will be implemented in graduated phases.

Development of Police National Service/Civil Defence

In the next four years the Vigilante Corps will develop its full civil defence role. By 1973, eight operation bases headquarters will be set up, utilising facilities in government schools throughout Singapore.

Prisons

Including persons detained under the Criminal Law, the prison population is about 2,400, each of whom costs about $8 a day to maintain. There are various studies undertaken for processing prisoners in ways which will not only be more cost effective but will also reduce the level of recidivism. This can be achieved by selective use of deterrent punitive treatment and the introduction of training in industrial work and disciplines.