TRAFFIC POLICE MOBILE SQUAD

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Health and Home Affairs what is the present strength of the mobile squad (including women) in the Traffic Police and if there is any intention to increase this strength.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: On 1st March, 1975, the Mobile Squad including women had 166 officers against 184 posts, i.e. 18 vacancies, representing 10% of the total number of posts. For the whole Police Force the corresponding vacancy rate is 15%. The Mobile Squad is relatively better staffed.

The Registrar of Vehicles Department has also its own Mobile Squad for enforcement work. On 1st March, 1975, the ROV Mobile Squad had 42 officers.

At the same time better work methods have been introduced. In October 1974 a radio communications system was introduced. Through this system Mobile Squad patrolmen can maintain radio contact with their Headquarters. This in turn enables the Headquarters to deploy Mobile Squad patrolmen promptly to deal with traffic situations.

Further, two new pursuit cars have been added to the existing fleet.

On 1st March, 1975, the Ticketing System and Points Demerit System were introducted. Under the Ticketing System a Mobile Squad Officer can issue a traffic ticket, which has the effect of a court summons, to an offending motorist on the spot for a compoundable traffic offence for which only the driver is liable. This has cut down time which a Mobile Squad Officer had to spend previously in reporting a traffic offender. The Road Traffic Act has also been amended to enable the Police to tender in court, as prima facie evidence, a certificate signed by a competent police officer certifying the accuracy and reliability of policy equipment used in speeding cases. Hence, there is no need for the whole team of seven squad officers to testify in court in speeding cases.

The Points Demerit System is aimed at identifying and removing dangerous drivers from the road. This System should make motorists drive more carefully.

In view of these changes the manpower requirements for the entire Traffice Division is being re-examined. My Ministry has set up a Manpower Review Committee to reassess the manpower situation for the whole Police Force. It is premature to say whether the strength of the Mobile Squad would be increased.