STATUTES OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.04 p.m.

The Minister for Health and Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

As a result of the recent reorganisation of the junior ranks of the Police Force giving effect to the recommendations of the Lee Soo Ann Report, police officers of the rank of Sergeant and the newly created rank of Station Inspector will now take over some of the investigatory functions formerly performed by Inspectors. To enable them to discharge their new responsibilities, it is necessary to confer on Sergeants and Station Inspectors, Police powers hitherto exercisable only by officers of the rank of Inspector and above.

This Bill seeks to amend the various Statutes of our Republic to achieve this objective.

Under the reorganised set-up, recruitment to the junior ranks of the Police Force is from persons holding at the minimum, the School Certificate or its equivalent. The Police Academy is also conducting various courses to improve the skills, upgrade the professional expertise, and generally raise the standards of Police Officers. As a result, the junior ranks of the Force are being staffed by better calibre officers, and those who have been promoted to the grades of Sergeant and Station Inspector can safely be entrusted with these additional powers.

Mr Speaker, 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.-[Mr Chua Sian Chin].

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