POLICE LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS (Criteria and procedure)

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education what are the criteria adopted in deciding on the awards of the Singapore Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medals and what procedure has been established to ensure impartiality and objectivity.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker. Sir, the Singapore Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Rules. 1974, stipulate that the Medal may be awarded to officers of the Singapore Police Force who have completed 12 years' continuous service and have a good record of conduct in the Force. The assessment of an officer's conduct is guided specifically by a set of criteria laid down in Police General Order A58 dated 6th December, 1969. The Order sets out the mode of assessment of character and conduct. It also lays down the types of offences which would disqualify an officer from consideration, differentiating between major and minor offences. In addition, the award of the Medal is withheld for those officers who are under disciplinary investigation.

The criteria adopted in deciding on the award of the Singapore Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal are more or less parallel to those in respect of the award of the Singapore Armed Forces Long Service and Goad Conduct Medal which are spelt out in Government Gazette Notification (Subsidiary Legislation Supplement) No. S 57 dated 16th February, 1973.

The Commanding Officers and officers-in-charge of Divisions and Units make the first recommendation of award to the Commissioner of Police. The recommendations are then considered by the Commissioner of Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs before they are put up to me for concurrence. They are then sent up to the President for final approval. This procedure that has been established ensures impartiality and objectivity.