MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

The Police Force

The Police Force will use new techniques to deal with the rising crime rate and new patterns of crime. A centralised Criminal Intelligence Unit has been established to improve criminal investigation. Officers will be trained in "scene-of-crime" procedures and the use of sophisticated equipment.

Team policing which enables patrolmen to maintain radio contact with their patrol cars and move swiftly was successfully tested in two Police Divisions. It will be extended to the other six Divisions.

To meet the manpower shortage in the Force more civilians and women police officers will be used. Full-time National Servicemen will be taken into the Force. Work methods will be reviewed to save manpower.

The Traffic Police will implement the Points Demerit System and Ticketing System soon. Under the Points Demerit System, drivers who commit serious traffic offences will be awarded points. Those who accumulate 12 points or more within 12 months will have their licences suspended for up to 6 months. The Ticketing System will enable the Traffic Police to issue summonses on the spot for certain offences. Both these systems have been computerised.

The Police will require the support of the public to be fully effective. Thus nationwide educational campaigns such as last year's "Keep Singapore Crime-Free" and "Keep Singapore Accident-Free" campaigns will continue to be organised from time to time.

To cater for shifts of population to new towns and housing estates and to replace dilapidated Divisional Police Stations, four new Stations will be built in Toa Payoh, Paya Lebar, Orchard Road and Jurong Town. Construction is expected to start in the next financial year.

Vigilante Corps

The Vigilante Corps has grown not only in numbers but also in its usefulness to the community. Apart from its civil defence role, it has also established the Community Security Force to help the regular Police in crime prevention. The CSF will be expanded to a strength of 10,000 men. Planning for a new Camp at Nee Soon has begun.

Prisons Department

Most of the recommendations of the Prisons Reorganisation Committee have been accepted by Government. A Prisons Action Committee has been appointed to oversee the reorganisation. To relieve the problem of accommodation, temporary prisons have been developed. A large prison for 4,000 prisoners will be built at Ulu Bedok.

Central Narcotics Bureau

Two Committees on Drug Abuse were set up last year. The first Committee was appointed to study the causes of drug abuse amongst youths in Singapore and to recommend effective measures for its eradication. The second Committee was appointed to look into the welfare, rehabilitation and job placement of drug abusers who are undergoing or have undergone treatment at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre on St. John's Island.

The Bureau will counter drug trafficking and sustain its educational and publicity efforts to alert the young on the dangers of drugs.

Immigration Department

A new Checkpoint will be built at Woodlands to match the widening of the Singapore/Johore Causeway. It is expected to be completed in 1977.

The Department's Illegal Immigration Task Force will seek out and deal severely with traffickers.