NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE POSTS

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law (a) whether he will state how many Neighbourhood Police Posts have been set up and in which estates; (b) whether the implementation of the NPP scheme is on schedule; (c) what are the shortcomings encountered, if any; and (d) what plans are in hand to ensure the full cooperation of the residents participating in the scheme.

Mr Wong Kan Seng (for the Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law): Mr Speaker, Sir, 20 Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) have been set up in Toa Payoh, Paya Lebar and Jurong Police Divisions. The main public housing estates covered by these NPPs in the Toa Payoh Police Division are Toa Payoh, Sin Ming, Potong Pasir and Upper Aljunied. The NPPs in the Paya Lebar Police Division are all located in the Ang Mo Kio housing estate. The remaining five NPPs, which are in Jurong Police Division, cover the Jurong East, Jurong West, Boon Lay and Marsiling housing estates.

The implementation programme has been brought forward by two years. The original programme was to have a total of 91 NPPs to cover the whole island by 1991. The revised plan is to set up the 91 NPPs by 1989 at the rate of 14-15 NPPs every year. This decision follows evaluations by my Ministry as well as by Japanese experts of the NPP system in Toa Payoh Police Division in June 1984 which concluded that the Toa Payoh NPP System was an overwhelming success. The Japanese experts accordingly recommended that the implementation programme should be brought forward by two years.

While there are no major shortcomings, there have been minor teething problems. A Steering Committee comprising senior police officers closely monitors the implementation of the system. The concept has been well accepted by the community. The NPP System has built up close police-public rapport. In the Toa Payoh Police Division, this close rapport is evident from, among other things, a 45% increase in the number of police reports. This compares with a moderate increase of 14% for the nation as a whole. The public is now more willing to come forward and make reports resulting in the Police apprehending more criminals. Between June 1983 and May 1984, there were 2,839 arrests in the Toa Payoh Police Division as against 1,599 and 1,252 arrests in the two years preceding it.

Public acceptance of the NPP Scheme is important and efforts are made to obtain the residents' cooperation through wide publicity and explanations about the scheme. Booklets explaining the NPP concept are distributed to the residents. It includes profiles of NPP officers serving the community so that residents can get acquainted with them. NPP officers visit the residents twice a year and this has helped in ensuring understanding of, and support from, the residents.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Hon. Minister of State for Home Affairs and Community Development enlighten this House as to whether the crime situation has somewhat improved since the introduction of the NPP into the housing estates or areas as mentioned by him in his reply?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, since the implementation of the NPP system in the Toa Payoh Police Division, ie 'B' Division, we note that there is an improvement in the crime position in the Division. Compared with the nation-wide figure of a 7% increase, the Toa Payoh Police Division had only a 5.5% increase. And in percentage terms, this is about 20% less than the nation-wide figure.

Mr Goh Choon Kang (Braddell Heights): ( In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State a question. Since the implementation of the programme has been brought forward, will the authorities face a shortage of manpower?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: There is no shortage of manpower. We have adequate Police manpower to cope with the programme. When I explained that we will build up the NPP System by 1989, it will be done over a period of time - 14 NPPs a year. So we are able to phase in the manpower required.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng (Jalan Kayu): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Hon. Minister of State has mentioned that the Paya Lebar Police Station covers ---

Mr Speaker: What is your supplementary question, Mr Heng?

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: I will come to the supplementary question.

Mr Speaker: Let me have your supplementary question.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Is the Minister of State aware that the whole of Ang Mo Kio is not covered by NPP? There are two parts of Ang Mo Kio - one part in my constituency, Jalan Kayu, there are 26 blocks, and another part in Nee Soon Constituency - which are not covered by NPPs?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Firstly, Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not true that the whole of Ang Mo Kio is not covered. I mentioned earlier on that Ang Mo Kio is covered. We had a scheme extended to Ang Mo Kio in 1984. If the Member is asking whether we are going to have NPPs in his constituency, if he could just wait a little longer, the NPP will be set up.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister of State to go and check properly. I believe that the NPP coverage is on a constituency basis and not on a town basis. So the 26 blocks in Ang Mo Kio that is bounded by Cheng San as well as Chong Boon are not covered by NPPs.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: This is a question of detail, Mr Speaker, Sir. When I mentioned that there are NPPs in Ang Mo Kio, I meant Ang Mo Kio Estate. If the Member is asking me whether we have NPPs in Chong Boon, Kebun Baru and Cheng San, including his constituency, these are details as to the build-up of NPPs in these constituencies, and I should be glad to let the Member have the details.