Andrew Loh
Government admits Home Team is stretched but what has been done so far?
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has its work cut out for it, looking at the way things are going. While Singapore’s crime rate remains low, at 684 cases per 100,000 population in 2008, there are reasons to be concerned.
“[The] fundamental question which MHA is exploring is whether we can continue to operate with the current level of resources,” Law Minister and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam, told Parliament in 2008. “Our Home Team officers at the front line are stretched and strained over a high alert that started since end 2001. The total number of overtime hours ICA ground officers at the checkpoints have to put in every month to cope with the volume of work varies between 23,000 and 28,000 overtime hours.”
The MHA then commissioned a “Human Factors” study on operational fatigue on the officers of the Home Team.
Workers’ Party chairman, Ms Sylvia Lim, again highlighted the issue in May this year in Parliament. Without counting the added demands of having the casinos, she said, “this study confirmed work overload and understaffing in several areas, even before the casinos are functional.”
According to Mr Shanmugam, “the volume and scope of work have greatly expanded, with increased population, tourist arrivals and more international events which require higher security coverage.” (Parliament, 2008.)
In a speech to the New York State Bar Association Rule of Law Plenary Session in October 2009, he said Singapore had 247 police officers per 100,000 people. In New York it was 420 per 100,000. But Singapore had a lower crime rate than New York – 684 per 100,000 population to New York’s 2,400. “Low crime rate is achieved with a leaner police force,” Mr Shanmugam said.
While the minister may be correct in saying that we have a leaner police force, he should be concerned about the toll this may take on the individual police officer as the workload increases. Indeed, in his 2008 parliamentary speech, Mr Shanmugam recognized this. “In general, the growths in population and traffic at the checkpoints have outstripped manpower growth in the Home Team.” he said. “Apart from the sheer volume increase, the Home Team has also had to deal with new areas, such as in casino regulation and counter terrorism. Terminal 3 and the Budget Terminal have added to the demands. Security coverage for major events, such as the IMF/ World Bank Annual Meeting in 2006 and the ASEAN Summit in 2007 has also been very taxing.”
With the opening of the two Integrated Resorts (IRs) and the new International Cruise Terminal at Marina South, the Singapore Tourism Board has forecast 17 million visitors to the island by 2015, a substantial increase from the projected 9 to 9.5 million in 2009. Singapore hosts the Youth Olympics Games next year and the yearly Formula One Race. Add to the list the annual National Day Parade, the year-end holiday seasons, large scale events like the recent Apec meeting, along with the presence of almost two million foreigners currently working in Singapore, the SPF faces significant manpower challenges going forward.
The police also have to deal with social problems such as the significant rise in the number of loansharks cases this year (13,771 from Jan to Sept 2009, more than the previous three years), Internet crimes, transnational criminal syndicates, one of the highest prison population in the world (Singapore ranked 73 out of 218 countries – 12, 349 as at mid-2008) – and the ever-present threat of terrorist activities.
The upcoming opening of the casinos at the two IRs alone “will demand tremendous resources towards meeting criminal activity of an unprecedented nature in Singapore,” Ms Lim said. “It is foreseeable that police would need to have heavy presence both inside and outside the casinos, both in uniform and plainclothes, to battle the problems caused by foreign gangs, prostitution, illegal money-lending, money-laundering, casino fraud, robberies and thefts, among others.”
To this end, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has set up the Casino Investigation Branch and is beefing up the Marina Neighbourhood Police Centre to specifically deal with criminal activities in the Marina area. All these require manpower and not just leveraging on the latest technological advancements to develop operational capabilities. Thus one of the main challenges faced by the SPF is that of recruitment. Ironically, the better the economy, the more police officers resign from the Home Team.
“Another pressure on manpower in the Home Team,” the Law Minister said, “is that in recent years, there have been more resignations, due to the economic boom.” He ascribed this to better pay packages in the private sector. In November 2008, the SPF went on a recruitment drive to attract 1,000 officers for its five departments – Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Singapore Prisons Service (SPS) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). But with the recession “effectively” ending, according to a recent statement by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, will the SPF face a similar situation of attrition in the new year as the economy picks up?
Also of concern is the potential corruption among police officers. Mr Shanmugam, according to a Channelnewsasia report, said he expected “an increase in corruption cases when [the] two casinos open here in 2010”. However, he is confident that the authorities will be able to deal with these. “[As] a system, as a police force, they’re very highly regarded and I believe systems are in place to ensure they’ll continue to be so,” he said.
Still, it is left to be seen how all these challenges will affect the morale of the individuals who keep our streets safe. At the moment, the minister should look into the fatigue factor of individual officers and address this.
The Ministry of Home Affairs was given a budget of S$3 billion for 2009. With the numerous challenges it will face in the new year and beyond, perhaps it is prudent to see if this is sufficient. Having a lean police force and a low crime rate may be something to crow about to others but we should not be complacent or arrogant when it comes to the safety and security of our citizens and our nation.
“We can expect a greater degree of complexity and uncertainty in maintaining social cohesion and preserving safety and security in Singapore in the years to come,” said Police Commissioner Koh Boon Hui in 2008. “We shall be a police force that will be nothing less than A Force for the Nation, One that Inspires the World.” (SPF website)
A police force that is stretched and fatigued is no inspiration to anyone – much less a force for the nation.
Perhaps Mr Shanmugam should update Singaporeans on what has been done to improve officers’ well-being on the job since his speech in Parliament in 2008 – besides having commissioned a study to look into it.
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the bigger threats today are tilted towards internal security or policing instead of an external one or warfare.
if Singaporeans are not ready to accept the abolishment of National Service, maybe we can consider having our boys have their service under the Police Department or be police-trained instead of soldiering.
currently, our combat experience are mainly from peacekeeping duties in UN at troubled nations. perhaps its time to phase out the army and focus on the terrorists.
Just thought of a scary scenario.
With the actual people in the SPF doing the work not necessarily being the same as the scholars who fly through the system, should I be worried that resentment and jealousy may pervade the rank and file.
If the lower ranks do not have a similar opportunity to rise up through the ranks because of our govt’s obsession with all things on paper, how else can they do well for themselves?
When our blue rank and file see the graduates pulled into the SPF and pushed through the ranks and earning the corresponding salary scales simply because they have qualification and didn’t mess with anyone important on the way up, what would they think?
Would they imagine they don’t have a way to get such a better life too?
I’m trying to imagine a scenario where illegal corruption (as opposed to the legal kind in the form of high salaries for public appointments and discounts for purchasing properties) begins to become a possible alternative that is considered seriously.
Sure, the punishment for corruption is severe, but is the noose preventing drug traffickers? Perhaps I’ve only begun to notice it recently but quite a few instances of bribery and corruption making the papers. Once the casinos come up, what’s to stop loansharking and money laundering from really hitting the big time, making connections in all the right places…who knows where it’ll stop. Who knows if it’s not already bought out the top people in preparation for the big time?
I don’t want scholars in charge if these same scholars won’t actually serve without the high salary. Because someone else may always offer a higher payoff (can anyone say Yeo Cheow Tong?).
I’m a little cynical. If this may happen to our top dogs in the SPF, what’s to prevent this from happening in our esteemed PAP?? Oh wait, too late! :)
http://www.yeocheowtong.com/
#23 Toolang & #26You sure or NOT
The Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre used to house Geylang NPC and G Division HQ. G Division HQ has since moved to Bedok North where it now shares the premise with Bedok North NPC.
Hence it would make it Geylang NPC seemed luxurious (or rather empty) compared to other standalone purpose-built NPC.
Food for thoughts.
#52 Online Shmonline
I believe the government not only EMPHASIZES on paper qualification but on age too.
Even if you have the proper qualification, I doubt they would accept you once you are over 35. Try to apply for any of the government positions – Police, Prisons, SCDF , etc and see if they bother to reply.
So when they advertised for XXX number for government jobs, these are meant for the younger population. Anyone above 35 applying for this entry level job, is deemed to have been handicapped (as though they are missing a limb or two).
If you watch reality tv – LAPD recruitment programme (sometime 2 years back) it shows the Los Angeles Police Academy churning out recruits as old as 48 years old. And as long as they passed the numerous tests (physically, classroom, etc), these recruits become real policeman even at the ripe age of 48.
Food for thoughts.
There appears to be an increase in corruption amongst those serving in the SPF. Could it be that they are seriously underpaid.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_458391.html
@New Era
“There appears to be an increase in corruption amongst those serving in the SPF. Could it be that they are seriously underpaid.”
NO! NO! NO! If it’s true, it’s casiNO!!!
44)Patriot
I can agree.But this Gila Pangkat and higher pay idea to me have to be put aside if one is sincere to serve the Nation and not merely joining for status or high pay.
Or it will end up with highly paid civil servant with poor citizen suffering .
WP ‘s Ms Silvia and those highlighting of overloading and understaff again is not a bad sign.It appear to me that they are justifying for a pay rise .So what so bad about joining the Home Team?Forget about the Pangkat.Go n sign up for the iron rice bowl tomorrow.Sleep oso can get pay
To: Patriot #44 and Niagara#45
Thank you for your understanding. Perhaps Agongkia #41 is currently a civil servant, serving our nation loyally despite not getting his promotion and pay raise for years. I salute to him.
My point is which working adult does not want promotion that comes with pay increment? Its a form of recognition of one’s (good) work performance. Can one accepts a salary that was 5 years ago (assumming that person has been with the company for 5 years and has performed well in his/her work)? Get real. Cost of living has been rising every year. One needs increased in pay to substain a living (perhaps some savings too). For those who are supporting their aged parents (who also have medical problems), they must also make sure that they have savings for their parents’ yearly (some half yearly) check ups and medication costs.
And Patriot #44, your comment about those who curry favor to get their promotions; I’d seen quite alot in the private sector. It happens everywhere. I believe in sticking to my principles and integrity. Once I turned down an ex-superior request to present a different set of invoice figures to our overseas product principal. I also turned down a job that requires me to bring in foreigners into our job market. The commission (if my clients accepts them) is pretty good. My reason? I don’t believe one (be it blue collar or white collar) should pay large amount of agent fees to work in another country. Whereas a friend of mine (has also asked me to join her in bringing domestic helpers here) had said: “Who cares? If you don’t want to earn this kind of good money, many others may”. I told her I don’t wish to earn this kind of money.
The answer to our solution is to get the PR’s and new Citizens to form a reserve team or do reservist for a 10 year cycle…… This will make them feel integrated with our society, since JOBS are being taken by lots of foreigners and PR’s and New Citizens……example the BUS service, lots of PRC folks that can’t speak English are being hired to be part of OUR world CLASS transport service…..Their contribution SPEAKS volumes
re: “TOTAL DEFENCE”
Let’s examine that idea — what does that mean? Is it possible? Of course not. There is too much uncertainty in the universe for any individual, group, country or celestial object (like a planet for instance) to be TOTALLY defended against “threat”.
But that doesn’t mean the choice is to simply ignore risks of dangers that might be lurking.
Bear in mind too that “defence” like any good or service requires resources. It is impossible if not unwise to blow ALL or a large portion of your resources on any one thing — in this case — TOTAL defense. Furthermore, how do you think life would be living under * the illusion * of some constant invisible “threat”? BTW, govts get much of their power that way — they scare The Sheeple into believing that some “all powerful evil deadly and apocalyptic threat” exsists and that The Government is * the only * agency with the wherewithal and “special knowledge” to protect The Sheeple and the country, and whatever freedom or sanity they have not yet lost.
I believe in SELF DEFENSE. Just as you don’t expect the cops to “protect” your home from invasion — you buy and install good locks and security, it is an extension of this basic idea applied to The Self. Therefore I support *LEGAL* GUN OWNERSHIP. If the citizen can prove to his community that he is of sound mind and good judgment, then no one should prevent him from owning a firearm.
However I doubt if my idea will ever catch on. Which is why I live in a country where I can legally own firearm, and I have a choice of shooting ranges to go and blast my lethal babies, killing as many paper targets thus satisfying my own inner hero’s inflated sense of “self-focused justice”, hoping to impress as many women as possible (for sex of course) with my machismo.
“An Armed Society Is A POLITE Society”, so wrote Robert A. Heinlein — a cracking sci-fi writer responsible for works like Starship Troopers and The Puppet Masters. Heinlein never trusted the government or any (so-called) “authority”.
I suggest that we bring in cheap labour to build up the ranks of the SPF. The very low salary being offered is discouraging many young men and women from joining the SPF and those that are in are easily giving in to temptation.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC091125-0000102/Three-accused-of-bribing,-cheating
I agree that there are too many NSFs not doing anything contructive in their respective army units, most times they are just idling in their bunks. Even the ‘Lobos’ who are storemen and clerks can be found work in the Police force, since the physical demands are somewhat different.
That way we can reduce the ever-increasing budget allocation to the SAF and allocate some of it to the MHA. With the rest of the money we can pay the US to have an aircraft carrier or two parked in our waters, to deter any potential aggressor.
The aircraft carriers and their crew (about 5,000 each) can then help boost the ship repair, consumer and service sectors of the economy.
An ideal 3-way solution!
What a Joke! The SPF streched?? For the amount of salary that they are recieving for the type of work they are doing?? Their so called crime rates are a baby’s play compare to their counterparts in Australia.. here, its the real deal! Gangs, guns, drugs, rapes, murders etc.. how many of those happened in Singapore? Many of their so called crimes are just petty in nature because they are backed by tough laws. eg. death penalty for drug trafficking. Look, the SPF needs the help of Pula Tekong army BATTALION jus to catch some suspects terrorist! What a joke.. its like killing an ant with a sledge hammer.
In addition, my friend who is working for the police coast guard tells me how they rotated their shilfs during work to sleep and play BIG 2… No wonder they say that a frog only thinks of the world as big as the well it lived in. Tell our overpaid goverment to send the SPF out to joint mission with the real police and i’ll beg you that the will be come begging home!
Can kind singaporeans with the knowledge about the crime statistics in terms of how they are calculated give a simple Y/N reply to the question raised by readers asking :
Cases where complainants are asked to file Magistrate complaint all not included in crime statistics?
Y/ N?
Hi SG Girl:
patriot was and is like You in that we believe in a very unconventional form of damage control on ourselves and that is we respect our upbringings by abstaining from money that will make us feel uneasy, if not guilty.
I feel i owe myself a duty to do as little damage to others as possible by making my livings simple and avoid creative means to earn a living. Be warned, i am a pauper although most of the time i am a happy guy at 6 decades old. Seldom do i feel sad because my pockets are empty, seems that i am lucky to have many friends who are ever ready to host me when i am high and dry. Okay, not to deviate too far, let’s talk about our men in blue.
It is not just the Policemen that are stretched, let’s us us look at most Singaporean workers, be they your family members, friends, colleagues or neighbours, which one of them are not exploited??? The greatest damages as a result of being stretched, manipulated and exploited are domestic quarrels, marriage/family breakdowns and physical, mental illness. Most, if not all, suffer emotional upsets over work and unfortunately most cannot avoid cross carrying their unhappiness from workplace to home and vice-versa causing multi-fold damages.
If the men in blue deserve sympathy, i like to say other than our lords, all other Singaporeans are pityful.
Allow me to implore readers to take a closer look at the cleaners, security guards, odd job labourers and other menial workers and see if they do not suffer more than others. Those who are SMRT and NEL Train commuters, please tell if those security guards You see are capable of crime deterrents, not to mention their duty is supposed to be capable of detering terrorism. I weep in my heart each time i see those old folks at work.
patriot
Can any MP ask minister WKS if cases in which complainants were asked to file magistrate complaint but they did not do so recorded as part of the statistics of crime rate?
I remember they use to boast so much about the NPP (Neighbourhood Police Post) scheme. Nowadays, it looks like NPP will die a natural death sooner or later. Most NPPs in housing estates are either closed or operates only during certain hours. I thought we have highly paid scholars who can plan 20 years ahead. But the SPF is now streched to its limit. Surely this is poor planning by people involved in HR planning or what is now known as.. Talent Management. Perhaps, we should get even more FT to help in the planning and management of talent in SPF.
I think ppl dun realize why locals refuse to join or drop out of the SPF. Coz it;s being managed by stupid scholars who have ZERO management skills and tekan the SPF groundsmen to meet their target/goals.
I think management really need to be changed. Invest to educate ur long-serving groundsmen to be the the management instead. Give them the oppo to take up uni courses etc…. and make them the future leaders in SPF. Rather than get stupid scholars who don’t even know how to tie their own shoelaces and only know how to wipe their bosses ass.
58) SG Girl Next Door on November 25th, 2009 3.10 am
My point is which working adult does not want promotion that comes with pay increment? Its a form of recognition of one’s (good) work performance.
Yeah right, I got $100 increament in 3 years changing my position 5 times just to throw me into those area which other so called engineers cannot fulfilled. The only thing I was told that I am one of the very handful ones that has this increament. The funny thing is that the so called engineers got promoted twice with increament within the same year. The world is so screwed up these days that employers prefer to promote those who are able to do what they are being told to, expecially the illegal ones. Where has justice gone to these days.
To ameliorate the problems, I understand that police force is practicing outsourcing.
I hear from friends that CISCO is even deployed to police the prostitutes and gambling activities in Geylang …. and I guess these projects are up for bidding on a commercial basis.
Ultimately the police force will make money purely by outsourcing its work to commercial companies… especially those with foreign joint venture partners.
What a neat and intelligent way. Only the best brains can conjure this.
apathy is the word of the day.
you see… so many of us here all speak of this topic, and at the end of it, we resign to our fate, we resign to the helplessness we all feel and say, “that’s just how it is.” our fellow police officers are like us in this respect as well. they are also normal working class citizens at the end of the day, worrying about the same issues a civilian faces, and feeling that same helplessness.
we just carry on with our lives then, letting this matter drift as we latch on to the next big thing to debate about, whatever it is that happens to be the next headline news. nobody does anything, and i myself am guilty of this, because i don’t believe i can change anything either.
but that’s also the reason why then it will be the same people in the govt who get to make the same decisions over and over again, and by then these decision-makers are also either tired/helpless/have no more new ideas on how to effect changes to improve the situation. they, too, resign to the fact that whatever new policies they try to implement, not much change will occur.
it is not their fault, nor the white collar management of SPF, nor the blue collar beat cops individually. there is no need to point our fingers at anyone in order to make ourselves feel better. it is just the tired, confused state of our singapore society. we live in the postmodern world rife with apathy.
i am so disappointed with how our govt is running things these days. gone are the era of the old guards. yesterday’s policemen were respected and feared….today they are merely servants to the ppl. with all the immigrants we have now….singapore hardly looks like singapore anymore. what a shame.
Aiyo..the police coast guards, please dont compare them to the ground officers. When ur in the job, ull know, and will stop telling us to play with the real big guys. No guns in singapore doesnt mean policemen dont slashed with parangs during gang riots and wont get hammered by offenders during a fight elsewhere in singapore. even in the heartlands. And yes, heartlanders, what a joke. Well, that show’s a joke really. Public just dont know how many offciers died in the line of duty.So “The fact Of Life”, 1 officer telling u that he takes turn sleeping during shift, does not mean All of policers do the same.
SPF officers are definitely over stretched. Having to work more than 24 hours shift, with endless meetings and forgoing meals. Not forgetting minimal allowance and welfare. Please, they are not your slave nor Robots. They need to have family life and a healthy body. Do not stretch them so much when they are doing so much for the society.
No wonder nobody wants to join the Civil sector these days..
Over-stretched? Don’t make me laugh.
The hypocritical cXXXX refused to investigate some theiving Singaporean bastard who stole more than $500.00 of my money, despite my sending them full documentary evidence.
They called it ‘breach of an agreement’ which only shows they can can out with utter crap when it suits them.
Don’t criticise their government, though, or graffiti a wall.
Tough on crime?