MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS • 2013 ISSUE NO. 4

by practitioners, for practitioners

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN HOMEFRONT SECURITY AND SAFETY:

HOME TEAM JOURNAL • 2013 ISSUE NO. 4 ENGAGING HEARTS AND MINDS

A publication of the

About the Home Team Academy The Home Team Academy (HTA) is a Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs that is committed to the training of Home Team officers in Homefront Security and Safety. The Academy aims to spearhead training in Counter-Terrorism, Law Enforcement, Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness. It also conducts a wide range of programmes, including Behavioural Sciences and Leadership Development.

www.hta.gov.sg ISSN: 2010-0167 HOME TEAM JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD

GUEST EDITOR Tai Wei Shyong

CHAIRMAN Jerry See

ISSUE NO. 4 DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON Logapreyan Renganathan

The Home Team Journal is a professional journal published EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Eugene Heng by the Home Team Academy Susan Sim to highlight the work of the Home Team and its knowledge partners in Homefront Security CHIEF EDITOR and Safety. The Journal also Lim Jing Jing functions as a forum for engagement, exchange and discussion over the broad and DEPARTMENTAL EDITORS diverse range of issues and Chan Keen Mun interests that come under the Charles Shng subject of Homefront security Diana Durga Devi and safety. Jasmin Kaur Jaswant Singh Peter Tay Robert Chia Tan Teck Tien Toh Cui Lin Winsome Chow

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Esther Chang Yvonne Chan

Please address all contributions and correspondence to: Home Team Journal Editorial Board Knowledge Management Branch, Strategic Affairs Centre Home Team Academy 501 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, 698928 For comments and feedback, please mail to [email protected]. MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS • 2013 ISSUE NO. 4

FOREWORD 2 By Jerry See EDITORIAL 4 By Tai Wei Shyong INTRODUCTION TOP STORY 6 The Community Engagement Programme: Nurturing a Living Partnership Ong-Chew Peck Wan, with box story by Asad Latif PARTNERSHIP FEATURES 16 Community Policing in Diverse Societies: The Singapore Story T. Raja Kumar 26 Why Community Policing Works Tang Gek Hsien

34 Security Outreach and Partnership: The ISD Story Security Education Command 43 Meeting the Challenge of Preparing the Nation for Emergencies Khaisarah Mansor 52 Community Involvement in Rehabilitation of Offenders in Singapore Desmond Chin, with box story by Teo Tze Fang 63 A Symbiotic Edge in the Fight Against Drug Abuse: The Alliance Between National Council Against Drug Abuse and NCADA and CNB HOME TEAM EXCHANGE 73 Home Team’s Mr. Volunteer lays out his Plans for the HT Volunteer Network Home Team Journal 80 Book review on I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know (Revised Ed.) Koh Yak Leng 85 Book review on I Love A Fire Fighter: What The Family Needs to Know Yazid Abdullah

89 Publications on Home Team’s Community Partnerships

Copyright ©2013. All rights reserved. No part of this publication (i.e. content and images) may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The opinions expressed in this Journal are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Ministry of Home Affairs. FOREWORD Foreword by Chairman

I have taken over as the Chief Executive of the Home Team Academy T(HTA). The Home Team Journal serves as a platform for the Home Team departments to share and exchange ideas and practices that each had put in shared learning. For this issue, the Home Team Journal has focused on the theme of community partnership and engagement. The Home Team has a long history of engaging and working with and through the community to achieve a more secure and safe Singapore. The Police began its community policing experiments in the 1980s and had not looked back since. CNB had also mobilised and engaged the similar experiences. From the articles in the Journal, it is clear that the Home Team considers the community an important partner in our mission to keep Singapore safe and secure. The various articles in the Journal share the experiences and practices of the Home Team in engaging and partnering the community. I hope that readers I would like to thank our Guest Editor, Mr. Tai Wei Shyong, Deputy Secretary of the Home Team Journal. His insights into how the Home Team had worked with and through the community allowed us to better identify sources of articles from the departments so as to present a more holistic picture of the Home Team’s efforts in this area. I would like to thank the administrative team, editors, contributors from Ministry HQ, and the Home Team departments for their efforts, patience and assistance in this issue. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Mr. Derek Pereira, former Chief Executive of HTA for his work in guiding the development of the Home Team Journal.

page 2 HOME TEAM JOURNAL FOREWORD

share insights into the work that the Home Team does. I hope that readers will enjoy this edition of the Journal and I look forward to the feedback and comments from you.

JERRY SEE Chairman Home Team Journal Editorial Board

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 3 INTRODUCTION BY GUEST EDITOR Introduction by Guest Editor

ringing the articles together for the 4th issue of the Home Team Journal is the theme of community partnerships and engagement – the Bcornerstone of the Home Team’s operational endeavours. The mutual trust and public-spiritedness of the Singapore community have served as a strong support to the Home Team’s work in keeping Singapore safe and secure. For instance, in 2011, 40% of all arrests made by the (SPF) were assisted by the public either through physical help or reporting of suspects through phone calls. Moving beyond public-spiritedness, the Home Team believes in empowering the public to be resilient in the face of adversity. This is done through many platforms, but at the national level, it is co-ordinated through the Community Peck Wan, the Director of Community Engagement in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) headquarters examines the impetus for the establishment of the CEP. Working across government ministries and grassroots agencies, the CEP harnesses the strengths of diverse groups to build up Singapore’s resilience in the event of a crisis. Since May 2012, SPF has been implementing the new Community Policing article outlines initiatives that leverage on community’s efforts and SPF’s future plans, including the use of technology and social media, to engage the community in crime prevention. Complementing this article is a piece by Ms Tan gives the historical background on the roots of Singapore’s community policing efforts. While the community plays an important part in keeping its neighbourhood safe, it can also help in the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders, to help them unlock the second prison, which is the stigma of a criminal record. Mr. Desmond Chin, Deputy Director of the Singapore Prison Service explains the rationale behind their programmes, such as the Yellow Ribbon Project and the lessons learnt after their implementation. Mr. Teo Tze Fang, Chief their release.

page 4 HOME TEAM JOURNAL INTRODUCTION BY GUEST EDITOR

Another way to involve the community in Home Team’s operational work is to empower them with the necessary knowledge to remain free of crime. Articles from the Internal Security Department (ISD), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), as well as the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) demonstrate the various ways to reach out to the public innovatively. In the article by ISD’s Security Education Command, we witness how ISD actively raised awareness on counter-terrorism to people in the streets. Ms Khaisarah Mansor from SCDF shares the initiatives to achieve SCDF’s vision to develop a comprehensive emergency preparedness programme and instilling an emergency-preparedness mindset in Singapore. In the same spirit of public empowerment, the joint article by the NCADA and CNB discusses their preventive education efforts against drug abuse, especially those targeted at youths. Under the section “Home Team Exchange”, we had the privilege of interviewing Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Chairman of the Home Team of the community working with and within the Home Team. Since his appointment as Chairman, Professor Ho has brought the volunteers closer together and had organised a leadership conference for Home Team volunteers in November 2012. He has also highlighted the work and contributions of the volunteers through publishing a book based on the volunteers’ stories in the same month. We are proud to present a list of publications chronicling the partnerships the Home Team has established with different segments of the community. These publications not only serve as written testaments to the work of the Home Team but most importantly, acknowledge that we owe much of our success to community engagement and partnerships. I hope that they also offer a platform for understanding an important aspect of MHA’s work. The Home Team will continue to engage and partner the community to keep Singapore safe, secure and cohesive.

TAI WEI SHYONG Guest Editor Ministry of Home Affairs

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 5 TOP STORY The Community Engagement Programme: Nurturing a Living Partnership ONG-CHEW PECK WAN

engage public stakeholders on the importance of crime prevention and Partnership (noun) 1. relationship between partners crime concerns. That same year, 2. cooperation the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme 3. group of people working together was set up to encourage neighbours to keep an eye out for each other’s A highly fashionable word in a home. It grew quickly to 100,000 complex, inter-connected world of watch groups. In 1997, it was black swans and rapid changes. revamped into the Neighbourhood Watch Zone (NWZ) to give residents In the Home Team, it is alive, a bigger role in ensuring safety and security in the community. Then public, deeply rooted, tenderly in 1998, the SPF, together with nourished, and prudently sustained. the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), developed the Community A HISTORY OF WORKING Safety and Security Programme PARTNERSHIPS (CSSP) to help neighbourhoods artnership with the community develop capabilities to address their started early for the Home PTeam. Most of the early The Singapore Civil Defence initiatives were in the arena of Force (SCDF) started working with crime, emergency preparedness the community in 1989 when Civil Defence Coordinating Committees initiatives put in place in response were formed in each of the electoral districts to promote civil defence National Crime Prevention Council was launched by the Singapore committees morphed and in 1998, Police Force (SPF) as a platform to were integrated into the People’s

page 6 HOME TEAM JOURNAL TOP STORY Association (PA) grassroots network as starting with the 9-11 attacks in Civil Defence Executive Committees1 the United States in 2001. Despite as part of the national effort to Singapore’s long history of streamline the grassroots organisations. community engagement on many Under the umbrella of CSSP, the SCDF fronts, the Government realised has been working with residents on after the London bombings in 2005 safety and emergency preparedness (the “7/7” bombings) that there Partnership programmes. Each constituency was a need to put in place a more organises an Emergency Preparedness structured programme to increase Day during which grassroots our community resilience in a world volunteers work with SCDF and SPF increasingly at risk of inter-racial in organising activities involving grassroots leaders and residents. was the “Community Engagement Community engagement has also launched by Prime Minister Lee menace of drug abuse. To combat Hsien Loong on 9 February 2006. the serious drug abuse problem At its core, the CEP is about that confronted Singapore in the developing networks of trust to early 1990s due to the rise of heroin coordinate and mobilise the support addiction, a slew of measures were of the different segments of the put in place, among them the setting community to sustain Singaporeans up of a National Council Against in the aftermath of a terrorist Drug Abuse (NCADA) in 1994. Set incident. The approach is to build up with a chairman from the private up networks of trust among different sector and comprising a large number stakeholder groups, through which of private sector members, NCADA we can train, plan and prepare for was able to tap on private sector a number of different emergency expertise in areas such as research, scenarios. advertising and public education, From the start, we were conscious thereby increasing the government’s that the CEP should not be a single- ability to reach out to different phase showcase campaign which segments of the public. out. If this idea is to work, it has to BUILDING RESILIENCE IN be for the long haul. We were guided THE POST-9-11 ERA: THREE from the beginning, and continue to GUIDING PRINCIPLES abide by three broad principles. he international security First, that we should tie in agenda over the past existing programmes and not create Tdecade has been one largely new initiatives for the sake of doing something. For example, the HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 7 TOP STORY Emergency Preparedness (EP) Day United” with the URL of www. held in every constituency was largely SingaporeUnited.SG. limited to creating awareness and competency training; we extended The Government’s role is their ambit to cover the psycho- “ that of a coordinator, socio dimensions of resilience. As a facilitator and supporter – helping with resources or the existing groups and measures to expertise when called upon, achieve buy-in, and then give them and finding ways to link the resources to lift their programmes and connect people and to a higher level. The aim is not to groups to form the achieve homogeneity or consistency – multiple stands and layers that would have been the death of our of the CEP network. community efforts. Rather, we want to give them space to grow in their Third, we want to minimise“ own directions, acknowledging that bureaucracy. The CEP today has each has its own strengths. a lean governing structure. At Second, the CEP has to be the national level, the Ministerial “ground-up”. People on the ground Committee on Community know their own domains best. The Supporting Government’s role is that of a Cluster Agency coordinator, facilitator and supporter – helping with resources or expertise Religious groups, Ministry ethnic-based to link and connect people and of Community organisations groups to form the multiple stands Development, and voluntary and layers of the CEP network. Youth and Sports welfare organisations pursued under the CEP should therefore be developed and sustained Educational Ministry of by grassroots activists. This will institutions Education help create ownership of ideas and Ministry of Information, enthusiasm to implement and sustain Media Communications them. The naming of the CEP web and the Arts Businesses and Ministry of steered away from names that unions Manpower gave the impression of a top-down initiative. In consultation with our Grassroots People’s stakeholder groups, we eventually organisations Association adopted the name “Singapore agencies under the CEP. page 8 HOME TEAM JOURNAL TOP STORY Engagement (MCCE) gives direction importance of community leadership on how to steer public response in in a critical crisis situation, but in the event of a crisis, and how the the past, it was taken for granted community’s capability to do so that leaders would know what to should be built up. It is chaired by do or say. We have listened to their the Minister for Home Affairs and feedback; it was not always the case. comprises the Ministers from the This led us to concentrate on developing a trained cadre of leaders as the Minister overseeing National Development (and the Housing and is that if we are able to build such a Development Board). cadre of prepared and trained leaders, Supporting the MCCE is the embedded within each cluster Community Engagement Steering domain, then they can act in a time Committee (CESC). The CESC, of crisis as the primary mobilisers chaired by Permanent Secretary of community efforts, working in (Home Affairs) and comprising the tandem with government. permanent secretaries of the cluster So began the Community lead agencies, provides operational Engagement Executive Development leadership and coordination. (CEED) programme with support from departments of the Ministry of BEYOND STRUCTURES: Home Affairs, in particular the Home DEVELOPING Team Academy, the Civil Defence CAPABILITIES AND Academy and the ISD Heritage OPERATIONAL READINESS Centre. Today, the programme s the CEP gained momentum, covers understanding of ethnicity, we recognised a need to counter-terrorism, learning skills in Amove beyond platforms and structures and focus on developing and learning lessons from the past in capabilities and operational readiness. communal harmony. Community leaders involved in Moving beyond the basic CEP told us we needed to provide CEED Programme, we now have a more training to handling emergency programme to train the CEED alumni situations. In particular, CEP to be CEP Trainers. This was again community leaders highlighted the a suggestion from CEED Alumni need for training in the necessary members. The CEP Secretariat skills and knowledge to perform their started the CEP Trainer programme leadership roles effectively when in February 2009 to equip the called upon during a major incident or CEP community leaders with the crisis. We have always recognised the capability to generate CEP awareness

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 9 TOP STORY amongst their cluster members and in participating in patrols and exercises help to “promote vigilance and test Within the clusters, leading the readiness of the volunteers”, which then improves operational programmes for their members. readiness at the community level.4 For instance, the Inter-Racial Strengthening the Habits (IRCC) members have undergone of the Singapore Heart mediation training and workshops Asad Latif* on speaking to the media, while the Ministry of Education has conducted hen the terrorist mediation workshops for teachers. grouping Jemaah The People’s Association2 (PA) WIslamiyah (JI) targeted has also been active in its efforts MRT stations and embassies in to improve operational readiness 2001, it took on both the hardware in the grassroots community with and the software of the Singapore programmes such as Community story. The response to JI was Emergency Response Team (CERT) calibrated accordingly. Singapore hardened its physical targets, but it also revisited the habits of the members, who are volunteers from the Residents’ Committees and only with independence in the Neighbourhood Committee Zones, 1960s. The objective of a terrorist attack is not to cause physical practice when members participate damage per se (although such in emergency exercises which are damage is traumatic to victims used to “generate greater public and their families) but to cause awareness on community safety and psychological dislocation by 3 awareness”. Under PA’s CSSP- undermining the people’s faith in their state’s ability to protect of the public are encouraged to work them and its core values. In the with the Police to patrol Singapore’s case of a multiracial society like public trains. For example, volunteers Singapore, the aftermath of a of the South West Community terrorist attack would be seen in Development Council have been an immediate social regression, in recruited to “conduct regular patrols a loss of the racial and religious with the Police to keep a look-out for trust built painstakingly over suspicious character and packages at the decades. Matters would MRT stations”. The PA believes that worsen if this outcome included

page 10 HOME TEAM JOURNAL TOP STORY physical attacks on a community workplace, or in places of worship deemed responsible for terrorism, – that Singapore is a place whose particularly if that community were habits of the heart are more organic a minority one. A law-and-order and stronger than the disruptive issue would become a racial one. abilities of any physical attack. Even if the physical damage from the What distinguishes the counterattack were to be contained CEP from many other national swiftly, as would be certain in the programmes and campaigns is that case of a well-policed country like it is structured but not formal. The Singapore, the psychological damage Ministry of Home Affairs provides the point of central coordination lasting. with other government The answer was to put in place organisations in a “cluster” system mechanisms that would draw on the habits of the Singapore heart constituencies of Singapore, but that would give these habits a namely home, work and worship. common space in which to live: But no ministry owns the CEP. Its a space comprising a network of participants do. I joined the programme to be diversity of Singapore society but a part of Singapore. In my cohort, would be bound together by the which was only one of many common mores of multiracial living. cohorts, I met people from an From secular grassroots leaders astonishing variety of backgrounds who were united in their belief personalities and argumentative that Singapore would overcome a academics, the many faces of the terrorist crisis – because there was no alternative. We would not run; of a society that was diverse but was we could not run. Instead, each still at peace with itself. These faces of us would bring to bear on our would be instantly recognisable in work our particular engagement society at large, some for themselves, with the community nurtured over others for the social constituencies the peaceful years. Some of us that they represented. Singaporeans had worked in the grassroots for would look for faces that they could decades and possessed the kind of trust in a crisis. Hence, these known street-credibility that would make faces of the Singapore community would help to reassure disoriented worked with religious institutions. members of a dispersed public – Some were businessmen; others whether in housing estates, or at the knew the labour scene as only a

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 11 TOP STORY

worker can. Some were mothers, communities. Indeed, there are some were fathers; others would no minorities in a crisis, for every become parents one day. All of us citizen is a piece of Singapore that spoke English, but for some, it was is incomplete without every other the mother-tongue that expressed patriot. * Asad Latif is author of Hearts of Resilience: Singapore’s Community Engagement We were young Singapore; we were Programme (Singapore: ISEAS, 2011). Singapore in middle-age; we were greying Singapore. We were a moving snapshot of CONCLUSION humanity as profoundly diverse as t is always a challenge moving the the garrulous pilgrims in Chaucer’s public from a state of awareness Ito active involvement. We need to was of a different sort, but we took tread a delicate balance. If everyone strength from being different from is intensely seized by emergency one another. If one of us should fail, preparedness all the time, they may ten others would succeed. We were well over-react to incidents. A middle simply too many to fail together. ground is needed, hence our approach The Canterbury Tales would be told. to focus on training a core group so In one of the many exercises that that they are knowledgeable and we undertook, my group was broken skilled, a group that will galvanise the up into three. Each group was given rest (who need only have awareness) paper plates, numbered from one to into action when called for. 20, and a hammer. All that we had to How do we know we are do was to strike the paper plates in succeeding? the right order. I laughed to myself – till I saw what was written on the An annual National Security 5 plates. These were not numerals Awareness Survey started in but the numbers spelled out in December 2002 to take the pulse of different languages, some in English Singaporeans offers encouraging and others in Chinese, Malay and signs. In the aftermath of the 9-11 Tamil! Thus, if a group did not attacks, fear was palpable. In that have a Tamil-speaking member, for example, it would not be able to than half (45%) of Singapore complete the exercise. So it was for the other races. government was capable of ensuring The moral: Singapore is a swift recovery following a terrorist incomplete without even one of its attack. The latest survey, conducted

page 12 HOME TEAM JOURNAL TOP STORY in November 2010 involving education campaigns. But compared 1121 Singapore residents - 80% to preparedness levels elsewhere, Singaporeans, 13% PRs and 8% work such a response is fairly normal permit or student permit holders -, in countries that have not faced a has 77% of the respondents agreeing terrorist attack in recent years. In the United States, for instance, a that the government is capable of 2011 nation-wide survey on disaster ensuring a swift recovery”. The preparedness shows that half of level of agreement was the highest American families still do not have compared to other statements such an emergency preparedness plan, as “(c)urrent security measures put in even though 72% of Americans place by the business or commercial worry about the possibility of sector in Singapore are adequate to another domestic terrorist attack prevent terrorist threats” (see Figure 2 for the full list of questions). government’s ability to protect them.6 At the same time, about half of the respondents (53%) say they are List of statements relating prepared for terrorist incidents where “being prepared” meant: Singapore’s ability to prevent a. Being able to keep a lookout for suspicious items and people in attack: public places; 1. I feel reasonably safe from b. Knowing what one should terrorist attacks in Singapore. do if a suspicious item or person is 2. Current security measures spotted; put in place by the business or c. Being mentally prepared commercial sector in Singapore to deal with the consequences of a are adequate to prevent terrorist terrorist attack in Singapore; threats. d. Being aware of practical steps 3. Current security measures one can do if a terrorist attack occurs put in place by the government near oneself; and sector in Singapore are adequate e. Being overall prepared for a to prevent terrorist threats. terrorist incidents. 4. Should a terrorist incident That almost half of Singapore residents feel they might not be Singapore as a nation will be able to cope with a terrorist incident able to recover swiftly. might seem alarming, especially 5. Should a terrorist incident given the many years of emergency preparedness drills and public

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 13 TOP STORY Government is capable of ensuring a swift recovery. nurture and sustain the networks of from terrorist incidents. trust that we have created.

Citizen operational readiness is but ENDNOTES one measure of our social resilience. At its very core, the CEP is about 1 These committee members were later “absorbed” managing and coordinating diversity, into PA’s C2E committees. so that we do not repeat the trauma of 2 The People’s Association (PA) was established as a statutory board on 1 July 1960 to promote racial our recent past, where Singaporeans harmony and social cohesion in Singapore (http:// fought Singaporeans over race and www.pa.gov.sg). religious issues. The racial riots of 3 Chia, Tze Yee. (2012). Towards a Safer and More Resilient Community: The Singapore Grassroots the 1950s and 1960s teach us that Experience, p. 124. In Sim, Susan (Ed). Building communal harmony is vital to our Resilient Societies, Forging Global Partnerships (pp. 122-127). Singapore: National Crime Prevention stability and survival, and cannot be Council. taken for granted. It would be naïve 4 Chia, p. 126. to think that the present state of 5 The National Security Awareness Survey is good relations has immunized us to commissioned by what is now known as the extremism and bigotry. Ministry of Communications and Information. It is used to assess the Singapore public’s awareness In fact, that we have enjoyed and perception of national security and also serves decades of peace and social as feedback on the National Security public communication efforts undertaken by the Singapore harmony tends to work against us in Government. inculcating the younger generation of Singaporeans with the correct values REFERENCES

and attitudes to race and religious 1. Chia, Tze Yee. (2012). Towards a Safer issues. and More Resilient Community: The Singapore Grassroots Experience. In Sim, Susan (Ed). Building Resilient Societies, the CEP is “a work in progress”. It Forging Global Partnerships (pp.122-127). Singapore: National Crime Prevention Council. will always be a work in progress; as our society changes and the memories

It would be naïve to “ think that the present state of good relations has immunized us to extremism and bigotry.

page 14 HOME TEAM JOURNAL “ PARTNERSHIP FEATURES EDITOR’S NOTES Division in the Ministry of Home Affairs, the coordinating ministry for the Community Engagement Programme (CEP). She leads the CEP Secretariat team that works with the CEP cluster leads and the community. Peck Wan was Director of the Corporate Communications Division and Press Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs for eight years, before leading the CEP Secretariat in 2007. Peck Wan has a degree in English Language from the National University of Singapore and also studied at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 15 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Community Policing in Diverse Societies: The Singapore Story T. RAJA KUMAR he Singapore Police Force is The Police provide information and suggestions T14,000 strong, consisting of “to guide the volunteers on slightly more than 13,000 sworn what measures to take, but it is the volunteers who civilians. step up to move the With about 5.2 million people programmes forward. living in Singapore, this works out It is worthwhile noting that numerous community policing programmes“ 100,000 population or a lean ratio were formed and led by citizens and volunteers determined to keep their people. (In England and Wales1, for local neighbourhoods and businesses example, the police to population free from crime. The Police provide ratio is 1:231 and in the United information and suggestions to guide States2, the ratio is 1:353.) the volunteers on what measures to take, but it is the volunteers who step THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT up to move the programmes forward. OF THE COMMUNITY IS While the programmes, in KEY TO SUCCESS he lean police to population ratio in Singapore means that there is a need to validate and measure Tthe active involvement of the our effectiveness in partnering community becomes central to the successful policing of Singapore. of public-assisted arrests, i.e. the Police, and community participation arrests made by the Police, directly in crime prevention, Singapore or indirectly3, as a result of assistance cannot hope to be as safe as it is. from members of public.

page 16 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Using this yardstick, we have good in public heath, prevention is reason to herald our community’s always better than cure. As Police Policing in support for the Police. In 2011, Commissioner Ng Joo Hee often around 4 in 10 of all arrests made says, our communities are the best by the Police in Singapore were, vaccine against crime and partnering Diverse Societies: directly or indirectly , a result of with the community is central to the successful policing of Singapore. contribution! It is a fact that the Police cannot possibly be everywhere policing began in 1983, when all the time. But our citizens are there we made a radical change in our on the ground and they can alert us to policing philosophy by moving to nefarious activities, and become ‘force the neighbourhood policing model. multipliers’. And this community Adapting from the koban policing participation helps to deter criminals. system in Japan, we implemented We want to foster a culture our version in Singapore, gradually where Singaporeans believe that it is growing a network of more than 90 every individual’s responsibility to Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) safeguard his own safety and property covering the entire country. and, then, join his fellow citizens to keep our communities safe and secure. Our communities are the The Police will work with our citizens “best vaccine against crime to enable this community response. and partnering with the community is central to the PREVENTION IS ALWAYS successful policing BETTER THAN THE CURE of Singapore. he Singapore Police Force’s mission is to prevent, deter By embedding the Police within“ Tand detect crime. the community, literally at the foot That simply means that we protect of public housing estates, the NPP the people who live in Singapore system successfully wove a fabric from crime and all manner of of trust between the community and criminal harm. the Police. In particular, we provided While the detection element easy public access to Police services (investigation, apprehension and and projected Police presence within prosecution) is the most familiar and the community. publicly visible, the combination of prevention and deterrence is actually INTRODUCTION OF THE more effective in dealing with crime. NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE In crime and public safety, as CENTRE

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 17 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES hile the NPP system generally worked well to Wreduce Singapore’s overall under his/her charge, has the ground crime, there were limitations to this responsibility for crime and public policing model arising from the safety in the particular jurisdiction increase in Singapore’s population under his/her purview. All NPC and the growth of new towns over the years coupled with internal engaged with the local communities resource constraints. We could not that reside within their area of control. sustain further establishments of NPPs in every new community that THE PARTNERSHIP developed. We thus reviewed our PLATFORMS community policing strategy based he two main platforms that we use to join with residents T unsustainable in the long run. against crime are the Neighbourhood In 1997, we ended the expansion of Watch Zones (NWZs) and the NPP network and introduced the Neighbourbood Watch Groups Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC). (NWGs), and the Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP). Queenstown in 1997 and was staffed At present, there are more than 600 Neighbourhood Watch Today, there are 33 NPCs across Zones, and within them 2600 Singapore, and we continue to open Neighbourhood Watch Groups. new NPCs in tandem with population In 2011, we had more than 5,000 growth and movements. In fact, two residents participating in the NWZ additional NPCs will be established by programmes. These residents keep 2015, bringing the total number to 35. an eye on each other’s premises; Sited at strategic locations island- wide (e.g. co-location with other rounds on foot or on bicycle to community agencies such as the safeguard their own immediate Community Centre), the NPCs neighbourhoods and alert the Police provide a one-stop service point for a should they detect that something full range of police services. In short, the NPC is home to a more complete these initiatives with dissemination of timely crime information and from fast response, beat policing, frequently organise residents to community liaison, and investigations, conduct joint patrols with the Police. to targeted anti-crime operations.

page 18 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES evacuation procedures; and • National Environmental Authority – Littering and dengue prevention. These sessions helped the Patriots to have a better understanding of Singapore’s laws and norms. To date, the locality where the Patriots are active has not received any negative feedback pertaining to THE COMMUNITY foreign workers. In fact, the Patriots SAFETY AND SECURITY assisted in the arrest of a suspect for PROGRAMME attempted housebreaking in one of he Community Safety and the dormitories in 2009. Security Programme (CSSP) Tis an action plan jointly drawn THE SAFETY AND up by the residents, grassroots leaders SECURITY WATCH GROUP and Police to address a localised he Safety and Security safety or security concern. Watch Group (SSWG) is the Tsecond of our two community partnership with foreign workers. engagement programmes to allow The Toh Guan Patriots comprises 30 the Police to engage members of dedicated foreign workers of various the business community on issues nationalities who have been recruited pertaining to safety and security, in to assist in relaying crime prevention particular the terrorist threat. messages and advice against anti- Presently, we have more than social behaviour to the foreign 100 SSWG clusters, which group workers in the vicinity of their together more than 800 commercial dormitories or lodgings. The workers buildings. We share with these do this through joint patrols with the SSWGs information on crime- related issues, surface safety-security and through participation in the local related problems for discussion community events. and craft joint contingency plans to In order for them to be equipped enhance preparedness and operational with the necessary knowledge, response to terrorist incidents by training was provided by various facilitating swift evacuation to reduce stakeholders: casualty rates. • Police – crime prevention; Police also work with the • Singapore Civil Defence Force SSWGs to implement the necessary

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 19 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES target-hardening measures for their and people sectors to take more respective premises, e.g. introducing responsibility for preventing crime. a stand-off distance through bollards Ever since, the Council and low screen walls, which help has worked closely with the mitigate the impact of a bomb blast police, industry and grassroots and the resulting casualty rate. organisations to equip Singaporeans In terms of engaging the SSWGs, with the knowledge to prevent crime, Police has deepened its engagement plus the skills to become crime level in recent years by organising prevention ambassadors themselves. emergency preparedness exercises, From the Neighbourhood Watch such as Ex Heartbeat in 2010 and Zones to the Community Safety 2011 with SSWG members in the and Security Programme, we have Central Business District. created a movement of volunteers THE NATIONAL CRIME who put their heart and soul into PREVENTION COUNCIL keeping their community safe and dream up new ideas to energise more to join their cause. This is an excellent example of active citizens partnering the Home Team, giving Singapore many years But perhaps our most successful of good security and one of the partnership with the community lowest crime rates in the developed resides in the National Crime world 4.” Prevention Council (NCPC), which Established on 4 July 1981, the celebrated its 30th year in 2011 National Crime Prevention Council with a well-attended international was set up as the key co-ordination conference in Singapore and a body to raise public awareness of book chronicling its critical role in crime trends and nurture a culture of preventing crime in Singapore. self-help in preventing crime. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong The Council works hand-in- said it most aptly in a foreword to hand with the Police, the community Making Singapore Safe: 30 Years and business associations to of the National Crime Prevention conceptualise and implement a range Council: of programmes, including one of “When we set up the National Singapore’s most successful and Crime Prevention Council 30 enduring public education campaigns years ago, we hoped to change – the “Low Crime Doesn’t Mean No mindsets and encourage the private Crime” poster series.

page 20 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES There are currently 26 council programme while the Police oversees members consisting of community the production of each episode, advising on case selection and scripts (including the Commissioner and the and even roping in police officers Deputy Commissioner) as well as to act. senior policy makers appointed by A survey commissioned by the the Minister for Home Affairs. Public Affairs Department of the Singapore Police Force in 2009 initiatives by the NCPC include: revealed that more than 95% of the The Crime Prevention 1,030 respondents were aware of the (CPA): The NCPC programme and 56% said that they has created a voluntary group of 120 tuned in to Crime Watch to learn volunteers to educate fellow senior about crime prevention tips.5 citizens to be more aware of crimes Cyberonia: Recognising targeting them. The programme’s that children are now exposed to success – it has won local and the Internet at a young age, the international accolades - led to it NCPC introduced ‘Cyberonia’, an being extended to the foreign worker interactive and self-learning game in community in 2009. This concept 2009 to help inculcate good cyber- of empowering willing individuals wellness habits at a young age. to promote good practices among Cyberonia helps young children their peers pioneered by the NCPC is to understand the importance of today adopted by many government safeguarding personal information agencies. The Health Promotion and how to deal with issues such as Board, for instance, appoints Health cyber-bullying and gaming addiction. Ambassadors to mentor and inspire About 40,000 students in Primary 5 their peers to lead a healthy lifestyle. Crime Watch: A public education each year. TV programme, Crime Watch, has been running for the past 25 years partnership models the Police is and is one of the top-watched shows part of, the NCPC can be said in terms of viewership on Channel to be unique in one aspect – its 5. Not only does it feature the composition has historically been dramatic re-enactment of criminal weighted to involve business leaders cases and police procedures, the from various industries and it is show also focuses on disseminating thus well-placed to act as a useful crime prevention tips and messages bridge in helping the Police reach to the public. In an example of out to industries that tend to resist good synergy, the NCPC funds the the regulatory aspects of policing. A

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 21 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES component part of the NCPC – the Advisory Panel on Licensing – has commitment, epitomise the close reviewed licensing conditions for bond between the community and the computer gaming centres, spas and Police. massage parlours and nightspots. The reviews include public consultations LEVERAGING ON SOCIAL as well as dialogues with the industry MEDIA players. By acting as a neutral arbiter ommunities are no longer just a in these consultations, the NCPC physical phenomenon; they also is able to persuade the industries Cexist in cyberspace. under review to step up self-policing Correspondingly, there are also measures to prevent crime from being criminals and crime in the virtual committed on their premises and thus world. Criminals have cheated make it possible for Police to adopt a victims of millions of dollars by lighter regulatory touch. exploiting the advancement of OUR VOLUNTEER SPECIAL their advantage. CONSTABULARY nother key bridge to the Communities are no longer community is the Volunteer “just a physical phenomenon; ASpecial Constabulary (VSC). It they also exist in cyberspace. was created in 1946, in the aftermath of the Second World War, when We are still at the infancy stage at about 150 residents came forward to replicating the success that we have“ join the new Special Constabulary. enjoyed with community policing in the communities in cyberspace. To all walks of life perform day- be sure, online communities are also to-day policing duties together fertile grounds for deploying many with their regular counterparts. In of the community-centred policing strategies that have proven to be so been deployed for operational duties successful in the physical world. during major events, such as the With the Internet and 3G mobile technology increasingly becoming regular features in our daily lives, the General Elections and Presidential Police have also expanded the use of Elections in 2011. social media as a strategic tool to reach In short, the VSC is an integral out to more members of the public to component of the SPF and these

page 22 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Since April 2009, we have set up ... as a police force, we our Facebook Page to reach out to the will have to progressively net-savvy community, and use it as a “ establish the trust and complementary channel to traditional co-operation we currently media for police appeals, taking share with real-world advantage of the viral nature of social communities, with communities media. The SPF Facebook page has that exist online. more than 269,000 fans, with more than 2,800 followers on Twitter. We also want the NPCs to further“ In November 2011, we achieved strengthen their rapport with the an operational breakthrough with community through a more co- ordinated and effective engagement netizen responded to Police’s appeal strategy in both real and virtual for information on a suspect in an worlds. Specially selected and trained unsolved crime - harassment by an unlicensed moneylender – posted on liaisons with community stakeholders our Facebook page. and play a more active role in SPF videos on YouTube have advising, catalysing and participating also been popular, attracting over in various community projects. 2.4 million views while the Police@ This way, they will become familiar SG iPhone application has attracted faces to residents and businesses in more than 56,000 users. In short, the area, thereby building trust, and we use these channels to regularly deeper and lasting ties. push out crime prevention messages We believe that such public and appeal for information to assist spiritedness in cyberspace augurs in police investigations. Moving well for the Police’s e-partnership forward, we are also exploring other with the online communities and ways to engage the public, such as as a police force, we will have to “live” e-Townhall meetings with progressively establish the trust and community partners and residents. co-operation we currently share We are currently exploring how with real-world communities, with technology can be used to enhance the communities that exist online. current NPPs and have invited tertiary institutions - the polytechnics and FUTURE OF COMMUNITY universities - to participate in a contest POLICING to design the NPP of the future so that ver the next few years, we we can garner creative and innovative will be implementing a series ideas of young Singaporeans. Oof changes to improve the

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 23 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES

way in which the NPCs work in, with projects. Technology will also be used and through the community. to enhance the community’s security. In May 2012, we launched the For instance, the Police will be setting new Community Policing System up police cameras in all 10,000 HDB blocks and multi-storey carparks evolving demographic trends and to help deter crime and to assist in changing needs in the community. investigations. With closer engagement The Singapore population is now with the community and enhanced more diverse with new migrants and visibility on the ground, the Police non-residents. Non-residents formed hope to reduce crime, and at the same 27% of our total population in 2011, time, increase the public perception of up from 20% in 2000. Coupled with security in their neighbourhood. the emergence of nuclear families and the growing phenomenon of SUSTAINING A SUCCESS more senior citizens living on their STORY own, it is critical for the Police he Singapore Police Force’s to engage more directly, and in love affair with community a manner tailored to the needs of Tpolicing has lasted almost 30 different segments of the community. years (since 1983), and this romance With the implementation of grows stronger by the day. a stronger police presence in the neighbourhood police post (NPP) neighbourhood, through regular foot in 1983, we have witnessed a long and bicycle patrols, as well as deeper period of sustained reduction in Police involvement in community crime in Singapore.

page 24 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES The crime rate of 606 cases per with us, to do an even better job. 100,000 population achieved in This article is adapted from a speech 2011 was less than half of what we DCP T. Raja Kumar gave at the International experienced 20 years ago in 1992. Conference on Principled Policing, organised Whilst our proactive policing and by the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI), in Kuala Lumpur in February 2012. preventive strategies have contributed to this long-term declining crime ENDNOTES trend, our commitment to engaging and working hand-in-hand with our 1 “Factsheet – The Police in England and Wales”, communities and the community’s Civitas Institute for the Study of Civil Society 2010, http://www.civitas.org.uk/crime/factsheet-Police.pdf involvement are a primary reason 2 David T. Johnson, “Japan’s Crime Control Policy: why we continue to live in a low- Achievements, Lessons, and Challenges, Paper crime and safe environment. delivered at the International Symposium on Crime This is, of course, neither an npa.go.jp/english/seisaku/International_Symposium_ accident, nor entirely due to good on_Crime_Reduction(Police_Policy_Research_ Center).pdf fortune. 3 An example of indirect assistance: suspects who We do not intend to rest on our were arrested by the Police after being sighted by laurels but will continue to explore members of public, who called in the location. new and innovative ways to bring 4 Susan Sim, Making Singapore Safe: 30 Years of community policing to the next level. the National Crime Prevention Council, Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011. Most importantly, the communities 5 Susan Sim, Making Singapore Safe: Thirty Years we police must trust us to do a good of the National Crime Prevention Council, Marshall job, and want to help us, and to join Cavendish Editions, 2011, pp. 130 -134

EDITOR’S NOTES

Mr. T. Raja Kumar is the Deputy Commissioner (Policy) in the Singapore Police Force.

Executive (CE) of the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), where he undertook a pioneering challenge and successfully saw through the passing of the Casino Control Act, the formation of the Casino Regulatory Authority, and the conceptualisation, development and successful implementation of the regulatory framework for the casinos.

Prior to his posting as CE CRA, Mr. Raja held several leadership positions in the Singapore Police Force, including as the Director of the Police Intelligence Department, Commander Ang Mo Kio Police Division and Deputy Commander .

Mr. Raja holds a LLB (Hons) from the National University of Singapore, and a Masters of Philosophy (Criminology & Law) from Cambridge University. He attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University in 2006. He was also awarded the Public Administration Silver medal in 2007 and the Public Administration Bronze medal in 1996.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 25 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Why Community Policing Works TANG GEK HSIEN

Legitimacy is not derived the community – is what makes trust “purely from support from so central to the community policing the letter of the law, but strategy. rather from the acceptance Crime is not just a legal but rather and trust drawn from a social phenomenon. Effective the community. community policing requires recognition of not just the dimensions A PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY“ of legality but also legitimacy in hile there are many policing action. Legitimacy is not derived purely from support from the Wcommunity policing from letter of the law, but rather from the traditional policing, the key value acceptance and trust drawn from the underpinning community policing community. is trust. In traditional policing, the Community policing recognises this and seeks to build this trust by reactive and legalistic, meaning that enabling community members to it focuses purely on incident response be empowered as partners of the and sees the public it engages with police to inculcate a sense of shared either as a victim of the crime or the perpetrator of the crime. Assessments of the impact of In contrast, community policing is community policing on crime are “a strategy for encouraging the public to become partners with the police performance indicators to measure in controlling and preventing crime” the effectiveness of community (Bayley). More simply, it “stresses policing due to the challenges of policing with and for the community quantifying intangible effects of rather than of the community” police initiatives. Furthermore, the (Tilley). Here, the key difference – success of measures such as crime partnership between the police and prevention may only be evaluated

page 26 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES against a prediction of what would community to build consensus and have happened had the crime supportive relations – listening to prevention effort not been made, and making proactive efforts to which is presently impossible. address their concerns, and sharing Bayley has proposed a more about internal work processes to foster mutual understanding. Policing Works indicators that includes both “hard” Concurrently, this engagement also provides the police with opportunities the objective vs. the subjective to gather ground information useful perceptions of change. “Hard” in crime detection and solving and measures includes crime rates, for the public to be educated on crime victimisation rates, real estate prevention awareness and measures. values and substantiated complaints about police behaviour, while Studies have also “soft” measures includes public “ demonstrated that the focused police-citizen of crime, perceptions of safety and interaction in community perceptions of disorder. However, the policing, which builds on police presence while allaying “soft” measures remain perennial public’s safety concerns, has challenges. resulted in a greater link There is nevertheless strong to overall public satisfaction evidence to argue that the perception with the police. of police legitimacy has made community policing effective in ADAPTING TO THE “ reducing public fear of crime and EVOLVING OPERATING increasing perceptions of safety. LANDSCAPE Studies have also demonstrated that the focused police-citizen interaction The NPC System in community policing, which builds he implementation of the on police presence while allaying Neighbourhood Police public’s safety concerns, has resulted TPost (NPP) system in 1983 in a greater link to overall public marked SPF’s paradigm shift from satisfaction with the police. a traditional policing model to a Thus, the Singapore Police Force community policing system. With pursues community policing through an eventual roll-out of 91 NPPs an effective communications and island-wide, SPF was enabled to capacity building strategy, where achieve many of its objectives, the most important of which was the

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 27 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES development of the relationship of trust between the Police and the guarding of crime scene could stretch community. With the increased public for hours, depending on how many cases the Fast response Cars (FRCs) assisted arrests saw a steady increase. By 1992, it was 33.6%. It increased being activated to respond to at the further to 34.8% in 1993 and to same time. 36.1% in 1994, which accounts for With an increasingly better- more than a third of all arrests made. Singapore was also ranked as the the SPF were similarly better- safest city in the world by the Global educated with more ‘A’-level and Competitiveness Report in 1996. diploma holders, and had greater However, as Singapore’s career aspirations. There was a need continual development brought about to broaden the job scope of NPP contingent changes to the operational landscape, the demands on policing The NPP system’s service delivery process was also seen as confusing to in volume but also in complexity. customers. Cases were passed from The NPP system, which comprised a police post providing limited services with the aim of attracting the HQ. Such processes lengthened residents and establishing points of the waiting times for victims and contact, could no longer keep up. As interested parties. specialisation grew within the Police The drawbacks of this system to address new demands from a more became increasingly apparent in assertive and educated population, 1997, when the Asian Financial there was a need to expand the Crisis struck. However a manpower scope of NPPs beyond foot and freeze imposed across the civil bicycle patrols, report-lodging and service, including the SPF, meant that deployments to ‘guard’ crime scenes. resources were increasingly tighter In a typical ‘999’ case where the on the ground. In such a scenario, (FRC) from the Police resources had to prioritise Divisional HQ would constitute the to address crime in a more targeted fashion. The SPF soon recognised that its operational deployment conduct investigations, the role of needed to be reviewed to maximise its limited resources for maximum guard at crime scenes during the returns against crime. The manpower period between the FRC’s departure crunch saw the manning levels at

page 28 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES NPPs reduced. To compound the and capacity through centralised problem, the workload between NPPs manpower and better technological was always uneven, with some NPPs and logistical support. The NPC servicing an area with as little as could integrate incident response and 2000 households and others assuming counter services with investigations responsibility for areas with more and pro-active crime prevention work than 15,000 households. including patrols and house visits. In 1997, SPF made a major The NPPs in this arrangement were adjustment to right-size its operational units. It decided to services. create the NPC system, with Queenstown NPC launched as the be rotated among the various functions, and thus be trained and core community policing concept equipped to handle a wider and more remained unchanged i.e. engagement challenging range of duties, including of the community against crime, this case management from the point of change led to the development of a response to follow-up investigation “one-stop policing centre providing (i.e. interviewing of victims/ the full range of policing services”. defendants and simple crime scene The NPC was created as an additional photography). While more complex layer of control and support between cases would continue to be handled the land divisional headquarters and the decentralised NPPs. NPP- crime cases now came under the NPC level resources would now be pooled at the NPC level, with each NPC comprising an average of also streamlined the service delivery process to eliminate the confusion NPPs reporting to it. In addition and unnecessary waiting times for to covering a bigger geographical victims and relevant parties. area with a larger population size, With a greater assumption NPCs would be also allocated by of responsibility came a greater population size, with one NPC per imperative for individual NPCs every 100,000 residents to ensure a more balanced workload. Indicators (KPIs) for crime reduction This pooling of resources at NPC- and prevention. Recognising that the effective management of to customise police response to the crime required adaptive responses, local community’s needs, as well as even proactive duties had to be develop greater range of capability streamlined. Hence, proactive

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 29 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES patrols became more targeted, police presence, as now, only areas with higher based on intelligence from crime occurrence of crime would trends. In addition, NPCs would warrant police patrols. also conduct proactive ambush and arrest operations for recurrent crimes To address this issue, SPF within their jurisdiction. Crime “ mobilised the community to take rates went down over the years more ownership and responsibility through the more focused use and for their own safety and security development of Police resources as concerns. Dedicated Community well as the continued engagement of Focus Plan (CFP) teams (the the community in crime prevention predecessor to the newly established and detection. However, the focus Community Policing Unit) were thus on targeted crime deterrence meant a set up within every NPC to engage resulting decline in the general public prominent grassroots leaders at all visibility of police presence, as now, levels on the concerns affecting their only areas with higher occurrence of neighbourhoods’ safety and security, crime would warrant police patrols. and to disseminate important crime Furthermore, to ensure that prevention information to the ground. response to a larger area of responsibility remained swift, bicycle to attend these grassroots meetings and foot patrols were replaced by and events, and joint initiatives including the Neighbourhood Watch resources managing much larger Zone (NWZ) and youth development areas, it was inevitable that the trade- programmes to steer youths away off was in terms of police presence. from crime were introduced. In 2001, the Community Involvement Crime rates went down over Division was also set up within “the years through the more focused use and development drive the management of community of Police resources as well as involvement and crime prevention the continued engagement systems among the NPCs, as part of of the community in crime SPF’s core operational strategy. prevention and detection. However, the focus on targeted The Terrorism-Crime Nexus crime deterrence meant a resulting decline in the September 11 2001 marked general public visibility of another watershed for the Force

page 30 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES as the global threat of terrorism as a networking platform between changed the operating landscape. SPF and members of the business With the exposure of the regional Al- sector to enable mutual dialogue and Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) discussion, sharing vital security- network and its cells in Singapore, related information and best the threat of terrorism for Singapore practices. This included consultation became more immediate and direct. on infrastructure hardening of Hitherto Singapore was not typically businesses’ operating premises, a target for its own sake. The JI plot the training of personnel to detect changed this. Terrorism made the potential security threats, and even Police’s community engagement the development of contingency plans of ordinary citizens and residents (e.g. evacuation plans) in times of an even more vital resource, as the best target hardening measure any groups were even formed for high country can have is the vigilance and preparedness of its people. security risks, like Sentosa and Jurong Island. The “community” could no “longer be restricted to just the CHALLENGES AHEAD residential population. The PF’s commitment to its business sector owning the community policing strategy commercial establishments Shas paid off. Even with making up the “soft targets” Singapore’s changing landscape, she had to be roped in. continues to enjoy one of the lowest crime rates in the world1. Data from The appeal of “soft targets” to“ JI Police records demonstrate that crime terrorist elements as demonstrated has consistently fallen since 2005, in major attacks in neighbouring from 870 cases of reported crime per Indonesia, led to an expansion of 100,000 population to 606 cases per the Police outreach and engagement 100,000 population in 2011. programme. The “community” could SPF also continues to enjoy much no longer be restricted to just the public trust and legitimacy, with residential population. The business residents in a 2008 HDB survey2 sector owning the commercial ranking the Police as the government establishments making up the “soft institution that they had the highest targets” had to be roped in. 3. In 2003, the Security and Safety The Singapore demographic Watch Group (SSWG) was formed

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 31 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES in the past ten years, with our population increasing from 3.4 optimised.4 The NPC will be the million to 5.8 million, including principal localised Police structure on the ground and more will be foreigners. While population done to augment its capabilities density is increasing island wide; and service delivery for deeper new townships like Sengkang and community penetration and Punggol are seeing greater growth, coverage. Even now, individual while residential developments on NPCs roll out CSSP projects to Sentosa contribute to the change reach out to the new segments of in the island’s demographic. New the community, such as the foreign integrated resorts and casinos worker population to dispense crime now stand in Sentosa and where a prevention advice and to assist in formerly vacant piece of reclaimed integrating them into mainstream land in Marina Bay once was. society.

SPF also continues to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “enjoy much public trust and he author thanks former legitimacy, with residents in Permanent Secretary (Home a 2008 HDB survey2 ranking TAffairs), Mr. Benny Lim, the Police as the government institution that they had the Mr. Tai Wei Shyong, for their highest confidence in3. invaluable direction and guidance, and Mr. Ng Yeow Boon, Senior To keep pace with change, “ the NPC system must itself evolve. for his valuable contributions on the More NPCs are being built: Marina NPC system. Bay NPC was opened on 6 February 2010 to serve the resident and ENDNOTES business population at the Marina 1 Singapore’s crime rate per 100,000 population in Bay area including the integrated 2009 was 661, which was lower than the other major resort. There are still plans to cities of Hong Kong (1125), New York (2378), London (11300) and Sydney (17904). construct more NPCs around the island by 2015 to deal with the 2 This refers to the HDB Sample Household Survey of 2008, which is conducted every 5 years and increasing population and expected involves 7900 respondents over 23 HDB towns and rise in incident response. 3 housing estates. While SPF has also stepped 3 SPF was given a rating of 7.6 out of 10. It was followed closely by the judiciary and Singapore’s up recruitment to deal with the religious institutions which scored 7.5 points and 7.4 additional numbers, resources points respectively.

page 32 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES

4 The structure of the SPF is noted to be one of 7. Singh, Jarmal. (2000). Community the leanest compared to other major cities; with Policing in the Context of Singapore. In approximately 260 police staff per every 100, 000 Work Product of the 112th International population, in contrast to London and Hong Kong, Training Course: Participation of the Public which have approximately 445 and 394 police and Victims for More Fair and Effective staff per every 100, 000 population respectively. Criminal Justice, Visiting Experts’ Papers. Fuchu, Tokyo: UNAFEI Resource Materials Series No. 56. REFERENCES 8. Tilley, N. (2008). Modern Approaches to Policing: community, problem-oriented 1. Bayley, David H. (1989). A Model of and intelligence-led. In Newburn, T. (ed). Community Policing: The Singapore Story. Handbook of Policing (pp. 373-403). Washington, DC: National Institute of Willan: Cullompton, Devon. Justice.

2. Bayley, David H. & Shearing, Clifford D. (1996). The Future of Policing. Law & Society Vol 30, No. 3.

3. Bayley, David H. (1998). What Works in Press.

4. Bucqueroux, Bonnie. (Undated). Community Criminal Justice: What Community Policing Teaches. Policing. com. Available at, http://www.policing.com/ articles/ccjhtml

5. Ferreira, Bertus R. (1996). The Use and Effectiveness of Community Policing in a Democracy. Policing in Central and Eastern Europe: Comparing Firsthand Knowledge with Experience from the West. Slovenia: College of Police and Security Studies. Available at http://www.ncjrs.gov/policing/ use139.htm

6. Ministry of Home Affairs, Strategic Research Branch, Research Division. (2011). Horizon Scan Report 1/2011: Impact of Police Presence on Public Satisfaction: A

EDITOR’S NOTES

Tang Gek Hsien is an Assistant Director (Strategic Planning) of planning and organisation excellence efforts across the Ministry. Under its Strategic Planning directorate, the Futures Unit supports long term planning through research projects relating to our safety and current trends of MHA’s key indicators. Through these research projects, we seek to understand our long term trends better and deepen our theoretical understanding of the drivers of these trends.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 33 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES COMMUNITY OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP: THE ISD STORY ISD SECURITY EDUCATION COMMAND

hen it became apparent still a young nation. Any attacks here soon after the 9/11 attacks could unravel our social fabric. Wthat a regional terrorist network (Jemaah Islamiyah – JI) Terrorism and riots are not was operating in Singapore and that “new in Singapore. in the it had planned terrorist attacks here, decade before and after the Internal Security Department independence, there were (known to all Singaporeans as ISD) the Maria Hertogh riots, the not only mounted security operations CUF riots, the 1964 and 1969 racial riots, Konfrontasi and engagement efforts. Indeed, terrorism communist bombings. and riots are not new in Singapore. In almost all of these in the decade before and after incidents, the mayhem independence, there were the Maria bore communal hues. Hertogh riots, the CUF riots, the 1964 and 1969 racial riots, Konfrontasi and ISD responded by embarking“ communist bombings. In almost all on efforts beyond just traditional of these incidents, the mayhem bore intelligence gathering and communal hues. investigations, intensifying its This new terrorism brought on outreach efforts and forging new by al-Qaeda was a global threat, partnerships on multiple fronts. something our open society was There was a need to immediately vulnerable to. There was every enhance security awareness, possibility that the adverse publicity augment ground coverage for the against Muslims and the inter- detection of the suspicious, and communal tensions following the 9/11 provide reassurance that Singapore attacks would reverberate here. After remained a safe environment. all, Singapore is a plural society, and Thus there were targeted security

page 34 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES outreach programmes to reach out security history and emerging threats to multi-national companies, foreign since the 1990s. It was mainly a question then of leveraging on the institutions, hotels, major commercial competencies built and lessons learnt OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIP: buildings and taxi-drivers. There was from these earlier engagements and also a need to strengthen Singapore’s bringing them to bear. THE ISD STORY social fabric through the nurturing of This article sets out our partnerships with community groups partnership and outreach roles, the and reassure the various communities philosophy that underlies them, here that calls for violence by the and the challenges that we face in al-Qaeda and JI terrorists did not implementing them as well as their resonate with the local Muslim outcomes. community. OUTREACH IN THE 1990S ISD had been engaging ur initial outreach in the “various community sectors on 1990s formed part of Singapore’s security history Othe National Education and emerging threats since Seminars. ISD’s audience then were the 1990s. It was mainly a civil servants and educators as well question then of leveraging as grassroots leaders, journalists on the competencies built and media executives. These and lessons learnt from these seminars were aimed at educating earlier engagements and and sensitising this select group to bringing them to bear. Singapore’s key security challenges Indeed the 9/11 aftermath “ and essentially sought to drive home the unearthing of the JI created the point that racial and religious a new security environment that harmony had to be actively fostered, required we give equal priority and not left to chance. Furthermore, to such partnership and outreach beyond just presenting the security efforts. There was a need for a context against which public servants greater premium to be placed on have to carry out their professional skill sets, know-how and expertise duties, the sessions also offered a forum for the participants to share were obviously new challenges but their concerns and experiences. The aim was to convince the participants as ISD had been engaging various not to take for granted our many community sectors on Singapore’s years of peace.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 35 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES The Question & Answer (Q&A) the expatriate/business communities discussions were often the high point of that the Singapore Government and the seminars. Participants appreciated security/enforcement agencies are in particular the candid exchanges with pro-active and taking all necessary ISD panellists who found it useful at measures to counter the terrorist times to share privileged information threat to ensure that Singapore with the audience. Many were unaware remains a safe place to do business, of various developments that have had work and live in; and impact on racial and religious harmony b. To sensitise the people to the terrorism threat to Singapore, and presentations and revelations offered that every individual’s cooperation the audience a better understanding and assistance is necessary to keep of not only Singapore’s security Singapore safe. context, but also an appreciation of We began by reaching out to the ISD’s mission and roles, and the multi-national companies (MNCs), complementary roles that all play. foreign educational institutions, local We did not just share at these sessions but learnt as well. ISD chambers of commerce and clubs, familiar with the broader policies of diplomatic missions as well as hotel the Government. This was necessary security personnel, grassroots leaders as the audience would often touch on and taxi-drivers. The contents of the larger issues that had implications on our security and stability such the White Paper on JI, the security as the impact of political security threat posed by JI in Singapore, the and developments in the region and terrorism threat to Singapore and elsewhere on our internal security. the South East Asia region. The SECURITY OUTREACH hand-outs with practical instructions AFTER 9/11 on how to counter the terrorist he counter-terrorism security threat. These included the pamphlet, outreach programme for the “Guarding against Terrorism - Tprivate and public sectors What You Can Do”, which was was initiated in January 2002, distributed to all participants, the handout “Bombs Threat Checklist” the JI in December 2001. The aims for the organisations for whom we of the outreach programme then, as did a security walkthrough of their now, are: premises, and pamphlets entitled a. To reassure the public and “Keeping Singapore Safe from

page 36 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Terrorism” in the four national especially with regard to their languages, which were distributed to destinations, the questions they taxi-drivers in 2003 and 2004. asked and their behaviour. The effort The approach to elicit public proved to be useful as we received cooperation, especially among many reports from taxi drivers on security personnel was updated passengers whom they believed were in 2004 with the introduction of acting suspiciously. brochures on “Guidelines & Advice for Security Personnel - Spotting A special feature of the Terrorists & Terrorist Activities”. “Centre is that the educational tours of the exhibits are indicators of terrorist suspects conducted by veteran ISD who were “casing” buildings and officers who had participated sensitive installations. The 7-page in the security operations in write-up essentially outlined up-to- various capacities - as research date indicators of terrorist activities analysts, field intelligence obtained from fresh intelligence, officers and interrogators. and analyses of terrorists’ modus SECURITY EDUCATION operandi. These included indicators hese security outreach efforts“ of terrorist surveillance and plans, were complemented by a suspicious activities and suicide Tsecurity education programme bombers. In 2005, we produced a centred around the ISD Heritage booklet “Keeping Singapore Safe Centre. The Heritage Centre was – How You Can Help” in the four an in-house project set up primarily languages; it provided pointers on how terrorists and suicide bombers operate, possible indicators of cases of our past battles against terrorist activities/behaviours and communism, religious and racial how the various constituents can extremism, and espionage. These help alert the authorities to prevent are not just old cases that bear no a terrorist attack. The booklets were issued to senior executives of various terrorists. There is much that we organisations as well as taxi-drivers; can learn from these cases in say, a 15-minute video clip on the same the manner in which groups bent on title was also screened at the taxi- political violence propagandise their operators’ service centres. ISD militant ideas. A special feature of the encouraged taxi-drivers to be alert Centre is that the educational tours of and observant of their passengers, the exhibits are conducted by veteran

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 37 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES to nurture mutual trust and forge in the security operations in various partnerships with community groups. Soon after the discovery of the JI network in Singapore, we engaged The majority of the visitors to the Muslim religious and community Centre have been from the Ministry leaders early, and brought them into of Education, MHA/Home Team Departments, MINDEF and the community/grassroots organisations. In particular, the Centre has been place even while investigation and intelligence operations were on- their programmes to sensitise their going. Several responded by offering to counsel the detainees, and they Singapore. Engagement on this front brought together a larger group of drives home the fact that the security clerics into a voluntary network of problems we faced in our formative religious counsellors, which is now years as a young state still make us known worldwide as the Religious vulnerable despite our many good Rehabilitation Group (RRG)1. years of nation-building. Soon after the discovery of COMMUNITY “the JI network in Singapore, COUNTER-IDEOLOGY we engaged Muslim religious errorist groups such as al- and community leaders early, Qaeda and the JI do not just kill and brought them into our Tand maim haphazardly. They confidence by briefing them engage in violence systematically, on our findings of the JI and propagandising their cause the threat that it posed. The expansively across the media channels briefings took place even while – books, the Internet, social media – to investigation and intelligence win over converts and sympathisers. operations were on-going. This is as much a battle of ideas too Several responded by offering and there remains an urgent need to to counsel the detainees. impress upon communities here that terrorism has been fast developing into It was obvious in the aftermath“ a long-term problem globally, and that of the 9/11 attacks that the ideology all have a part to play in stemming the espoused by al-Qaeda and JI terrorist groups would remain a problem in the foreseeable future. Terrorist efforts are premised on the need ideologues continue to churn out

page 38 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES techniques that ISD had learnt violence in order to win over converts through interrogations and to their cause. There is the real psychological analyses of detained possibility that young minds will fall terrorists. They were briefed for for the militant ideas, allowing them instance, that in JI’s recruitment to gain a foothold in the psyche of the sessions, which were commonly held mainstream. Countering the ideas thus under the cover of religious classes, requires more than just rehabilitating terrorist groups would brainwash the terrorists. The battle has to be potential recruits into believing fought upstream, through a structured that the mainstream understanding engagement programme to raise of Islam was wrong, and that the community awareness of the threat group alone was in possession of the the militant ideas pose. The efforts correct understanding of the religion. are aimed at ensuring that militant The psychological make-up of the ideas are marginalised, that they do recruits was normally that of a person not gain a foothold in the psyche of in search of religious truth. At such the mainstream and a consensus is JI sessions, the recruits were shown forged with the community to counter videos that purportedly depicted the oppression and ill-treatment the programme are: a. To raise awareness that Bosnia, and which appealed to their terrorists misuse religion and spread emotions and sense of justice. These their ideas of hate and violence through various channels; The idea of a terrorist group b. To encourage the community “operating in Singapore was to play a part in countering terrorist so alien that many of the ideology and promote zero tolerance people we briefed experienced against its spread; and cognitive dissonance. Most c. To marginalise radical rhetoric. thought that the ideas and In the early days, the Director methods of the JI were of ISD would helm the community foreign and found it difficult to come to terms with the participants the importance of such fact that they were living in partnerships. Community groups co-existence with such evil. were briefed on the terrorism situation around the world and the videos were meant to convince region. They were told about the recruits that they had to act“ in recruitment methods of terrorist defence of their religion by taking up groups and their brainwashing the cause of armed jihad. ISD briefers

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 39 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES would also explain the psychological “jihad” actually means to “work impact of the ideas i.e. how normal hard and strive”, and not “war or people become terrorists bent on violence”. killing innocents. Indeed, ISD invested heavily in ISD had to be both prudent and the process of forging partnership judicious in the way it approached with the community. While it was the community. The idea of a terrorist urgent that there be a partnership group operating in Singapore was and a community element in the so alien that many of the people we briefed experienced cognitive ideology, that process could not be dissonance. Most thought that the forced by the imposition of views and ideas and methods of the JI were perspectives upon community groups. to terms with the fact that they were Once the community groups living in co-existence with such evil. “understood the problem that There had to be a lot of the threat of terrorist ideology reassurance on the part of ISD. In would pose to the social fabric of Singapore and the role they the community, ISD had to take could play to neutralise it, they into account religious and cultural acted earnestly to build a firewall sensitivities and guard against falling to protect the community. into the narratives of al-Qaeda and the JI, as well as those on the extreme A partnership that can withstand“ Right of the political spectrum in the the uncertainties that terrorism West, both of which like to depict an poses, has to be one that is carefully unfolding war between Muslims and the West and its allies. So even as we had our sights trained We had to be careful for on the broader operating environment instance, with the use of concepts marked by extreme urgency, ISD and words like “jihad”, although strove to ensure that each and every the term had entered the lexicon of interface with community groups the international media. Thus we was guided by the spirit of dialogue thought that it was wrong to use the in empathising and sincerely seeking word “Islamic terrorists”, because to understand the perspectives of to Muslims, this was a contradiction the community and their fears of in terms – Islam is synonymous with possible backlash from the 9/11 peace and abhors violence. We did and the JI attacks in the region once not even take for granted the use the community groups understood of the term “jihad”, for to Muslims the problem that the threat of terrorist

page 40 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES ideology would pose to the social and offered them the correct fabric of Singapore and the role they interpretation, in bid to delegitimise could play to neutralise it, they acted terrorist ideas. Community activists also wrote articles in newspapers, community. books and set up websites and Thus in early 2002, about 130 blogs, all aimed at driving Muslim organisations representing militant ideas to the fringes. Some a cross-section of Muslims in examples are Ustaz Muhammad Singapore, came together to issue Haniff Hassan’s blog and his book a statement to condemn terrorism, entitled “Unlicensed to Kill”, in and dissociate themselves from the which he debunked terrorist ideas likes of the al-Qaeda and JI, and espoused by the late JI operative Imam Samudra. Ustaz Muhammad fellow Singaporeans. This was Haniff’s website provided youths mainly a diverse group that had not with a platform to ask questions on worked together previously but felt Islam, particularly in the context responsible enough to come together of terrorist ideology. These actions to reassure other Singaporeans. The of the community created in effect, Religious Rehabilitation Group a censuring environment so that (RRG) was born at this time, when youths are not lulled into thinking a group of religious clerics came that the aims, grievances and together to volunteer their services ambitions of terrorist groups have to counsel the detainees and address the endorsement of mainstream their misconceived religious ideas. community. A group of Malay-Muslim social service organisations and mosques PARTNERSHIP also came together to provide social WITH EDUCATIONAL service and counselling services to INSTITUTIONS children and spouses of JI members SD also worked with educational – these programmes aimed to ensure institutions to organise seminars that the families continue to remain Iand dialogue sessions for engaged in mainstream society. educators and students to raise their Malay-Muslim organisations on awareness of the terrorism threat. their own started organising talks on Counter-terrorism messages have counter-ideology to combat militant now been incorporated into the ideas. In many of these talks, RRG mainstream academic curriculum. members were present to share with We are of course cognisant of the the audience how terrorist ideologies fact that this is a sensitive endeavour; had misappropriated the religion, after all, the terrorist ideas of the

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 41 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES al-Qaeda and JI are often erroneously winning hearts and minds and couched in religious terms, and it is upholding shared values, and for this, forging a strong partnership religiosity with extremism and with the community is crucial. This militancy. collaboration requires more than just apprising the community of security had a multiplier effect. The Malay threats. It demands constant nurturing Language, Drama and Debating and special empathy for the needs Society of National Junior College of the different communities here. took the initiative to organise Leveraging on its past experiences dialogue sessions on counter- to forge strong and durable relations terrorism for youth from various with all stakeholders, ISD is ready for educational institutions. A group this challenge. of three undergraduates launched a project to reach out to youth and raise ENDNOTES their awareness on the terrorist threat 1 on the Internet. The project involved Religious Rehabilitation Group. www.rrg.sg launching a website and organising a youth forum.

CONCLUSION SD’S community outreach and partnership efforts have evolved Ito become an important part of its mission. Ensuring the integrity of Singapore’s social fabric, and continued security and stability does not just involve intelligence and enforcement. It is about

EDITOR’S NOTES

The article was contributed by ISD’s Security Education (SE) Command. The main objective of the SE Command is to facilitate the learning of Singapore’s security history through the security incidents and cases that ISD had managed. It does so through the ISD Heritage now shares with its stakeholders.

page 42 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF PREPARING THE NATION FOR EMERGENCIES KHAISARAH MANSOR

he Singapore Civil Defence feel that this is a vital aspect they Force (SCDF) takes a need to incorporate as part of Tholistic and long-term their lives. Coupled with a busy view in preparing the nation for lifestyle and a general dependence emergencies and makes all efforts on the government and emergency to promote and institutionalise responders to cope with crisis emergency preparedness among the situations, SCDF is constantly challenged in attracting participants engagement efforts are primarily for its Emergency Preparedness focused on developing a national programmes. Recognising these public education strategy, which challenges, SCDF tailors its includes the provision of resources community engagement programmes – manpower and infrastructure – to better pitch its public awareness to educate the civilian population programmes to Singaporeans. in civil defence knowledge; and to organise and provide training for THREE STRATEGIC them in basic civil defence skills. THRUSTS This way, everyone in Singapore he SCDF has therefore should be able to look after himself /herself, their family, friends and Tthrusts to increase the people around them during an individual level of emergency emergency. preparedness of the population. They In a well-developed city like are namely, enhancing community Singapore, which has been safe self help, forging partnerships from natural disasters thus far, with stakeholders, and leveraging SCDF faces challenges in instilling on emerging technologies and the importance of emergency innovations. preparedness as not many people

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 43 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES ENHANCING COMMUNITY after its own safety and security SELF HELP matters through self-help and mutual he SCDF’s Public Education support. It serves to foster community strategy is driven by the vision cohesion and harmony among local Tto develop a comprehensive grassroots leaders and residents, emergency preparedness programme, students and workers, and create known as the CD (Civil Defence) opportunities for people to solve Ready Programme, that engages community problems as a group. and reaches out to all segments of SCDF actively facilitates the conduct the society. Hence, the SCDF has adopted a multi-pronged approach emergency preparedness, community by reaching out to the different target vigilance and readiness. Examples groups with programmes customised of CSSPs are Fire Safety for Market to suit their needs. These target programme, Community Patrols groups are: and Emergency Preparedness for a. Students Domestic Maids. b. Residential Community c. Workplace employees COMMUNITY EMERGENCY d. Volunteers; and PREPAREDNESS e. Residents PROGRAMME A range of programmes are in nother programme that we place to meet the needs of these target provide members of the groups and they are described below. Apublic is the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme COMMUNITY SAFETY AND (CEPP). The CEPP is a modular- SECURITY PROGRAMME based emergency preparedness t is imperative that SCDF is training programme pegged at raising able to interest the community peacetime awareness of community Iin taking care of its own safety emergency preparedness and to and security. In this respect, SCDF ensure the community’s survivability together with the other agencies during wartime. Taking this as the within the Ministry of Home basic premise for the programme, Affairs has been actively engaging the community in the conduct the training scheme. First-Aid, one- of the Community Safety and man Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation Security Programme (CSSP). The (CPR) and Automated External 1 CSSP serves as a framework that encourages the community to look casualty evacuation, emergency

page 44 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES procedures and unconventional Community Emergency Response threats are covered during CEPP. Teams (CERT). CERT is an organised These skills aim to equip participants group of volunteers who will respond with self-help knowhow which they to an emergency and assist the can carry out before the arrival of community in the recovery process. SCDF emergency forces during The CERTs play a crucial role in an a crisis. Conducted at the Public emergency or major disaster as the Education Centre of the four Civil Defence Division HQs, participants responders within the constituency to mitigate the situation at ground zero prior to the arrival of the SCDF. the modules at their own pace, and at no cost. Since its launch in 2003, One of the aims of the SCDF more than 721,000 participants have “is to educate the public on attended the CEPP. fire safety and emergency preparedness know-how by EMERGENCY equipping them with the PREPAREDNESS DAY necessary skills so that they PROGRAMME can help themselves in ach year, 48 Emergency any crisis. Preparedness (EP) Days are Eorganised by the Community SCDF-PA CIVIL “ Emergency and Engagement DEFENCE READY HOMES Committees (C2Es) of the PROGRAMME People’s Association (PA) in close ne of the aims of the consultation with the SCDF. EP Days SCDF is to educate the are also highly supported by the O grassroots organisations as part of emergency preparedness know- the effort to create a more self-reliant how by equipping them with the and resilient community in handling necessary skills so that they can help emergencies. Residents can learn themselves in any crisis. In partnership with the PA, we at the validation booths. EP Days initiated the SCDF-PA Civil Defence serve as a good platform for the C2E (CD) Ready Homes Programme, within each constituency to heighten providing residents in residential the level of community emergency estates with a self-validation checklist preparedness within the respective to encourage them to develop Civil heartlands especially for their Defence skills. This was launched in

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 45 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES

April 2011 and since then, more than Polytechnics, needs to be uniquely 32,000 homes are “CD Ready”. positioned to entice their participation in our programmes, SCDF embarked SCDF-MOE CD READY on a new and exciting initiative to SCHOOLS PROGRAMME establish the CD Lionhearters Club in CDF and Ministry of Education tertiary institutions. The programme jointly initiated the SCDF- S Programme in 2012 to strengthen Subsequently, students from ITE the level of emergency preparedness College East, West and Central and of Singapore schools. Under the Temasek Polytechnic also formed the programme, schools are encouraged CD Lionhearters Club, which now to take ownership and gauge their has more than 400 student members. level of emergency preparedness Lionhearters are encouraged through a self-validation checklist. to participate in the Community The checklist will also help the Emergency Preparedness Programme schools discover the steps they have (CEPP), awareness programme on to take to increase the emergency cultural sensitivities and traditions preparedness level of their school of different countries, Community staff and students. Engagement Programme and mediation training workshop. With CIVIL DEFENCE these skills, the Lionhearters will LIONHEARTERS CLUB be able to perform the following ecognising that the mode roles: of engagement for tertiary a. Training the community in Rinstitutions, namely ITEs and Life Saving Skills

page 46 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES

ITE-CD Lionhearters (College Central Chapter) with SCDF Personnel, ITE Management and Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Chairman of Home Team Volunteers Network, at the club launch on 20 July 2012. b. Mediating incidents involving in our CD Ready Homes Programme. communal tensions on While the C2Es actively recruit and campus grounds manage the volunteers in the area of c. Providing assistance for community emergency preparedness on-campus incidents under the CERT scheme, SCDF d. Providing humanitarian provides the necessary training in assistance during overseas the form of CEPP. SCDF is also missions represented at C2E meetings to disseminate information and gather FORGING PARTNERSHIPS feedback on CD and EP matters. WITH STAKEHOLDERS Professional advice and guidance key partner of SCDF’s is offered to C2E on matters community engagement is the pertaining to Civil Defence and A People’s Association (PA) related programmes and activities. The members are also briefed on SCDF leverages on its grassroots networks, especially the C2Es, analyses and challenges faced in to enhance our Public Education their communities. Such forums have outreach efforts to residents in become the feedback channel, thus heartlands and promote awareness of promoting good communication and Emergency Preparedness. PA is the ownership among the C2Es. With this champion of two of SCDF’s strategic collaboration, SCDF aims to see an engagements in the promotion of increased participation rate for CEPP community emergency preparedness, and increased number of households namely EP Days and CERT. PA is participating in the CD Ready Homes also an intrinsic and critical partner Programme.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 47 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Another strategic partner of the common goal of enhancing safety SCDF is the awareness amongst the chemical industry. There are four main areas SCDF collaborates closely with the of engagement and collaboration: a Responsible Care Programme; emergency preparedness among b Training and Education; the community, focusing on niche c Leveraging on industry groups such as the residents, students expertise; and and employees of industrial and d SCIC as a communication commercial premises. The Council’s platform for the industry. programmes include regular Fire The close collaboration between Safety Seminars and Workshops SCDF and SCIC has proven to organised for workers in the industrial and commercial premises. achieving the common objective In addition to community of enhancing safety within the partnerships, SCDF has forged chemical industry. As a testimonial of this close partnership, SCIC was community. The SCDF has been presented with the SCDF Strategic in close collaboration with the Partner Award at the Civil Defence Day Parade 2011. This Award was Council (SCIC) since 2002 to introduced by SCDF to recognise actively and continuously engage organisations for their substantial the chemical industry on risk support and participation with SCDF management and safe practices at the in the mutual exchange of knowledge workplace. Dialogues and meetings and expertise. have been held with SCIC to gather Beyond the local context, SCDF feedback on new initiatives, such also collaborates with its international as the Petroleum and Flammable partners in bringing humanitarian Materials Regulations, the HazMat assistance to regional countries Transport Vehicle Tracking System, stricken by emergencies. Codenamed and the formation of the Company Emergency Response Team. In 2009, has a 55-member strong rescue SCDF formalised the engagement contingent on 24hr standby that can and collaboration with SCIC on be mobilised for overseas deployment various projects, programmes and within 2 hours. A key part of this contingent are the elite rescuers organisations in achieving their from the Disaster Assistance and

page 48 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Rescue Team (DART). Since 1990, First-Aid, CPR, and Peacetime DART has been deployed to 13 Emergencies and Terrorism. The dynamic features of technology, the 2004 Asian Tsunami Disaster, especially in the areas of media, have the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake and also allowed SCDF to explore public engagement through the use of new Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. media tools such as Blogs, Facebook, In 2008, DART was successfully Twitter and YouTube. Another example of an innovative International Search and Rescue use of technology in the SCDF Advisory Group (UN INSARAG) as is the upcoming launch of the a Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Emergency Preparedness Centre (USAR) Team2. Since then, SCDF (EPC) that will be co-located within has been extensively sharing its the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery, experiences and lending assistance at the Central Fire Station. The to USAR teams across Asia and the EPC is scheduled to be open to the Middle East, to build up their search public in the third quarter of 2013. and rescue capabilities according to The aim of the EPC is to enhance UN INSARAG guidelines. public education on Emergency Preparedness to a higher level by LEVERAGING EMERGING letting them experience a variety TECHNOLOGIES AND of sensory learning experiences. INNOVATIONS Through these experiences, members echnology has played an of the public will be immersed in important role in recent emergency scenarios and be able Tyears, especially in the to learn through environments SCDF’s public outreach efforts. simulating real-life. Advancements in technology have seen a growing pool of smartphone users. There is a greater need to Encouraging citizens to engage the increasingly mobile “take personal ownership younger generation and motivate in times of emergencies them to develop a stronger interest is the way forward in improving their Emergency for the SCDF in readying Preparedness (EP) skills. Today, the nation to be CD ready. SCDF has four iPhone applications for download, namely Fire Safety, “

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 49 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES CONCLUSION ENDNOTES CDF believes that involving 1 Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a the community, and most life-saving technique used to rescue casualties importantly, ensuring who have collapsed from cardiac arrest to restore S heart function and increase chances of survival. individuals are adequately prepared for emergency is crucial in dealing computerised medical device that is capable of analysing the casualty’s heart rhythm and directs with crises when they occur. the user to deliver an electric shock to the casualty. Encouraging citizens to take survival in the recovery process. personal ownership in times of 2 In emergencies is the way forward for in Asia, and seventh in the world, to earn distinction the SCDF in readying the nation to USAR Team. This is the highest level of recognition be CD ready. By adopting the approach of an technical search and rescue operations in structural involved community, SCDF will be collapse incidents in an urban city environment. able to channel its efforts towards strengthening the nation’s resilience. The advancements in technology and new media have also proved to be very effective tools in reaching out and engaging the population. Moving forward, the SCDF will continue in its efforts to explore and leverage on new technologies and new media to continuously enhance our content and reach out to more members of the public. We believe that these publicity tools will enable us to effectively reach out to more individuals and spread the message on the importance of emergency preparedness skills and knowledge.

page 50 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES EDITOR’S NOTES Education from the Community Preparedness Branch (CPB) of the Public Affairs Department, SCDF. CPB is responsible for the planning, conceptualisation and development of appropriate Emergency Preparedness, Fire Safety and Anti-terrorism programmes as well as activities to enhance awareness and equip civilian population with basic Civil Defence knowledge and skills for survival. CPB also coordinates with various stakeholders in the conduct of Public Education activities on Fire Safety & Emergency Preparedness Programmes. For more information on community preparedness and publications, please visit the SCDF website: http://www.scdf.gov.sg/content/scdf_internet/en/community-and- volunteers.html

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 51 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Community Involvement in Rehabilitation of Offenders in Singapore

DESMOND CHIN KIM THAM

As a key partner in hand of steel in a velvet glove.

criminal justice, we protect society through the safe Prison Service started the Yellow “ “ custody and rehabilitation Ribbon Project in 2004 to help the of offenders, cooperating in 11,000 prisoners released annually prevention and aftercare. reintegrate into society. Singapore’s campaign to involve the community - The Singapore Prison Service in the rehabilitation of ex-offenders Mission Statement was recognised by the United Nations in 2007 for its ground-breaking work. REDUCING RECIDIVISM But beyond compassion, the ultimate he traditional view of prison goal of such re-entry management of is that it exists to punish former inmates is crime prevention, Toffenders and deter them from to keep Singapore a safer place by breaking society’s laws again. The helping those who might commit incarceration of offenders is a priority crimes again rethink their options. of the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) but we also believe that reduction strategy has three society’s goals are better achieved dimensions: through humane treatment and rehabilitation of prisoners, of giving Secure Custody | Modern Prison, them hope and a second chance at Better Management life upon release, so they do not go The redeveloped Changi Prison back to crime. In balancing the needs Complex is modelled after several of secure custody and discipline of high security prisons overseas. It inmates while securing opportunities has not just the most technologically for rehabilitation for those capable sophisticated security systems to and willing to restart their lives, make prison supervision a safer job, but also allows greater focus Captains of Lives, offering a helping on rehabilitation and create more

page 52 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES employment opportunities for acquired cooking skills in the Dining Community Involvement in inmates. Southeast Asia’s largest Behind Bars programme and yet laundry is based here, open 24 many more have learnt basic baking Rehabilitation of Offenders hours a day to handle wash from all in the prison bakery. Singapore hospitals. But make no mistake, prison life remains highly Community Engagement | Saving our in Singapore regimented and conditions are spartan Youths to deter inmates from ever wanting to Working with other members come back. of the Home Team, the Prison Service facilitates visits to prisons Every offender is different, by youths at risk to create awareness “so each gets a customised of the consequences of criminal treatment plan called Personal behaviour. Under the Preventive Route Maps (PRM), that allows Drug Education Programme, visits his progress to be monitored to Drug Rehabilitation Centres are throughout his stay in arranged for school students, so they prison, giving him a better can see and experience for themselves chance at a smooth re-entry the tough regime that drug addicts to society. have to undergo and the spartan living conditions. Talks are also Rehabilitation | Foundation for“ a given by Central Narcotics Bureau Better Life Every offender is different, so Programme, the Secret Societies Branch each gets a customised treatment of the Police Criminal Investigation plan called Personal Route Maps Department (CID) arranges for (PRM), that allows his progress to wayward youths to visit Changi Prison. be monitored throughout his stay in The voluntary programme gives these prison, giving him a better chance at youths a glimpse of life behind bars a smooth re-entry to society. and encourages them to change and To give offenders a stronger disassociate from their gang member foundation on which to build a crime- friends. free life, the Prison Service set up How have we been doing? The a Prison School to provide formal usual measure of impact is the education leading up to the GCE recidivism rate, i.e. the proportion A’ Levels. Inmates are also given of prisoners who re-offend and are time and opportunity to expand their returned to prison after two years. interests in sports and recreation. Singapore’s recidivism rates are Some have discovered new talents among the lowest in the world, in art workshops conducted by consistently lower than most jurisdictions. HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 53 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES

2-year member. The establishment and maintenance of positive social bonds 2006 2007 2008 Rate (%) will assist offenders to reintegrate as law-abiding citizens. Strong family Singapore 25.1 26.5 27.3 ties can provide moral support New 36.8 37.9 39.2 Zealand and meaning to life. Support and Scotland 44.9 44.1 42.4 acceptance from the community New South is also important in helping an ex- 42.9 42.4 43.1 Wales offender as he journeys through the Western path of recovery. 39.5 39.8 45.3 Australia Ex-offender Mazlan Mahat, who Figure 1: Recidivism rates in Singapore, New was jailed for helping loan sharks, Zealand, Scotland, New South Wales and Western Australia. Source: Singapore Prison Service remembers the willingness of the Annual Reports 2008 – 2010; Department of public to overlook his past. When Corrections (New Zealand) Annual Reports 2007/2008, 2008/2009 & 2009/2010; Scottish he began working at the Manhatten Executive Statistical Bulletin: Criminal Justice Fish Market in Yishun, many of his Series (August 2011); New South Wales Annual Report 2010/2011; Western Australia Annual colleagues and customers told him Report 2010/2011 he was lucky to have been given a second chance. Mr. Mazlan is now The prison service does not, an assistant manager at the restaurant however, do rehabilitation and and is being groomed to be a reintegration on its own; our multi- restaurant manager and his prospects faceted approach involves not just for the future are bright. What ultimately determines themselves, but other governmental successful rehabilitation is an agencies, Voluntary Welfare offender’s own desire to change. Not every criminal or drug abuser families and the community at large. may be willing to reform but the right kind of rehabilitative strategy paper. can motivate prisoners to rebuild THE COMMUNITY’S their lives. Currently, community INVOLVEMENT IN partners are extensively involved in REHABILITATION the SPS’ rehabilitation programmes in the following areas - education, he goal of rehabilitation is religion, family-focused services and the successful reintegration programmes, and the halfway house of the offender back into T scheme. the community as a contributing

page 54 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES WORK workshops, as well as providing t is imperative that offenders vocational training in prison. Its are taught marketable skills Employment Assistance Unit (EAU) Ito help them secure steady helps to secure employment for ex- employment when they return to offenders and those undergoing society. The Singapore Corporation the Work Release Scheme, through of Rehabilitative Enterprises its databank of suitable jobs from more than 1500 private companies board in 1976, provides rehabilitative in the manufacturing, engineering, and aftercare services to offenders building and transportation and while in prison and following their service sectors. (See SCORE: Supporting Community Reintegration for more details.) establishing and managing industrial

SCORE: Supporting Community Reintegration By Teo Tze Fang*

providing rehabilitation and reintegration services to offenders and ex- - Training and preparing offenders to be “Ready for Work” - Engaging employers to ensure that “Work is Ready” for offenders - Helping offenders “Secure and Sustain” in their employment - “Strengthening Partnerships” with the community to provide aftercare support

In order to enhance offenders’ employability and facilitate work reintegration, and employability skills. The emphasis on vocational and employability skills give offenders a chance at employment upon release as it provides them with 5,094 offenders.

As part of our efforts to rehabilitate offenders, we expose them to realistic work environment while they are in prison in order to instill them with positive work ethics and values. The core business operations under

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 55 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES

and business operations set up by private sector companies (such as food manufacturing, electronic and electric manufacturing).

employers to offer job placements to those about to be released. In 2011, more than 1500 offenders found jobs prior to their release, which was a 35% increase from 2010. This can be directly attributed to the increase in the

Secure & Sustain reintegrate and we recognise the importance of helping offenders sustain their and ex-offenders to resolve any work-related problems. With this close collaboration, the 3 and 6 months job retention rate achieved in 2011 were 78% and 54% respectively.

Strengthening Partnerships It is essential for community partnerships to grow with us in the journey of rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. In 2011, with Singapore Prison Service (SPS), we implemented the Yellow Ribbon Project (YRP) with the theme “Little Gestures, Big Difference”. Through this campaign, we recruited 562 volunteers and engaged 189 community partners to make small yet

on the path of rehabilitation and reintegration. By drawing on the strengths of the community, we will be able to move forward in the journey towards the reintegration of offenders and ex-offenders into society.

position in the Singapore Prisons Service was Deputy Director of Prisons and Chief of Staff, a position he held for three years.

page 56 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES EDUCATION families are often in disarray when nother priority is the provision they are imprisoned. Therefore, of education (academic or Avocational) for the purpose of period can help foster stronger raising the offenders’ education level familial bonds and networks upon and employment skills. Academic the offenders’ release. Since 2006, education is provided through Family Resource Centres (FRCs) teachers seconded from the Ministry have been set up in SPS to provide social assistance and support to help vocational and skills training. families cope during their loved ones’ incarceration (e.g., in the areas of RELIGION eligion is a source of moral issues and emotional counselling). support and guidance for many The FRCs provide information Rwho are in prison. Recognising and referral or case management that faith-based programmes can be services to families in need, and powerful tools in the rehabilitation engage service providers from the process as it gives offenders a strong community to deliver family-focused sense of purpose, direction and programmes to the offenders to meaning in life, the Prison Service help prepare them for their roles promotes equal representation of as spouses and parents, and to religious activities while adhering encourage reconciliation of broken familial relationships upon their are encouraged to develop their release. spiritual well-being by turning to their faith. Those who wish to HALFWAY HOUSE SCHEME embrace any of the main religions in he Prisons Halfway House Singapore, namely Buddhism, Islam, (HWH) Scheme, started in Hinduism, Sikhism, Catholicism and TApril 1995, allows amenable Christianity, are encouraged to do offenders from prisons and drug so. Volunteers from the respective rehabilitation centres (DRCs) without faiths conduct religious services and strong family support to spend the counselling sessions for them. last stage of their incarceration in a halfway house. There are currently FAMILY-FOCUSED 10 halfway houses participating in SERVICES & PROGRAMMES the scheme and their programme ncarceration usually has a comprises counselling, work therapy negative effect on the families and and moral/religious education. In I HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 57 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Model was developed to enable professional standards, and are HWHs to offer more structured and standardised programmes to better training institutes. meet offenders’ reintegration needs. SPS also works closely with the Industrial and Services ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS Cooperative Society Limited AND PARTNERS IN IN-CARE ur volunteers are at the enhance employment and provide forefront in meeting the entrepreneurial opportunities for ex- Oreintegration needs of our inmates. From a base of 124 from their in-care phase, where the volunteers in 1999, we have more offenders are briefed on the various than 1,200 volunteers today. resources and schemes available. Volunteers come from many the ex-offenders job training and unique set of skills. The Gigatt/ meaningful employment to help Quanta Yellow Ribbon Tattoo them regain their self-esteem. This Removal Project is one such is achieved through providing on- example, staffed by volunteer doctors the-job training and cooperating who use their specialised knowledge with private companies on a joint and laser machines to remove or venture or consultancy basis. Besides lighten the tattoos of inmates. This job opportunities, ex-offenders initiative, which complements the rehabilitation programmes in prison, helps inmates who have publicly mentoring and participation in pro- renounced their gang membership social activities such as group sports. to better reintegrate into society and aids them in gaining employment ENGAGING STRATEGIC after their release1. COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN Volunteer training programmes THE AFTERCARE SECTOR are offered to all prison volunteers. or many offenders, the The objective of the programmes is transition back to society to orientate and equip the volunteers Fremains a struggle. Sustaining with the necessary knowledge the motivation to not re-offend and skills to engage the offenders requires strong community support, purposefully, while appreciating as well as encouragement from the rules and regulations of SPS. the offenders’ families. Upon their Volunteers are also trained to release from prison, ex-offenders

page 58 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES often live with the stigma of having served time behind bars and this can the CARE Network was the Case Management Framework for sentence itself. offenders in the aftercare phase. As a result, many ex-offenders This service is delivered by full- time Aftercare Case Managers from “second prison” of suspicion because the Singapore Aftercare Association of their past records. An absence of (SACA) and the Singapore Anti- community support increases the Narcotics Association (SANA), who chance of re-offending. Therefore, facilitate the reintegration of ex- the importance of community offenders with their families and the involvement and the critical role society. Under the Framework, the it plays in the reintegration of ex- case managers work with their clients offenders who are motivated and desirous of change cannot be over- needs that are essential for successful emphasised. reintegration. The managers make referrals to other agencies for Upon their release from services that they do not provide and “prison, ex-offenders often ensure that adequate services are live with the stigma of having provided to their clients. served time behind bars and this can often be more YELLOW RIBBON PROJECT difficult than the prison n 2004, the CARE Network sentence itself. launched the Yellow Ribbon IProject (YRP), an annual The CARE (Community Action“ campaign aimed at changing the for the Rehabilitation of Ex- way society views ex-offenders and instead help give them a second in May 2000 to bring together key chance to succeed in life. As the YRP strategic partners from both the is focused on community acceptance, government and non-governmental many community and corporate sectors that are responsible for organisations have taken the offender reintegration in Singapore. initiative to volunteer their services. The Network engages the community, Community and grassroots leaders, co-ordinates member agencies’ politicians, corporate partners and activities and develops innovative celebrities have given time and rehabilitation initiatives for reforming effort to grace events, often bringing offenders. with them a passion to spread the

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 59 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES message of acceptance for ex- A central coordinating body is offenders. Community involvement the most effective way to effectively and partnerships also come in the coordinate community involvement form of donations and sponsorships, in the aftercare sector. In SPS’ case, or showing support by donning the we leveraged on the CARE Network Yellow Ribbon, fund-raising or to forge strategic community simply participating in the YR events. partnerships for the delivery of both This sense of forgiveness and in-care and aftercare programmes and acceptance by the community can services. be empowering. Nicodemus Lee was 18 when he was sentenced to the Reformative Training Centre for housebreaking. Upon his release, he As government agencies seek to was able to secure a job at a public collaborate under the umbrella of the CARE Network, support from the win over his employer with his work community at large can be brought ethic. Nicodemus is now lead singer on board through national campaigns and guitarist of the band MiLuBing, such as the YRP, where strong which won the Chinese language community messages are reinforced and events targeting various social networks are conducted. LESSONS LEARNT FROM COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT for Effective Planning & PS has learned some pertinent Implementation lessons from its engagement In the preliminary planning phase, Sstrategy with community it is essential to have a committed partners. These include the need team of core personnel who will for a central body for coordination, preparing the community to receive on the ‘Branding’, ‘Engagement’ ex-offenders, selecting a core and ‘Execution’ of community team for effective planning and projects. In Singapore’s context, the implementation, a strong volunteer CARE Network Secretariat has this core, strong branding of the Yellow responsibility. Ribbon Project, and the ability to touch the heart of the community. The strength and capabilities of community volunteers cannot be underestimated. Volunteers come

page 60 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES from both religious and non-religious CONCLUSION organisations and are matched with PS should never function in prisoners in terms of the expertise a vacuum. It needs to tap into and ability to assist in rehabilitation Sthe expertise of its strategic needs. Besides tapping into this partners and the community at large. valuable community resource, there The success of its various initiatives is a conscious need to build on the is attributed to a very supportive capabilities of volunteers from the pool of community partners who are passionate in working towards for more effective outreach of the common cause of successful rehabilitation programmes within reintegration. prison. With the continued engagement of our community partners, it is hoped that the recidivism rates will continue Ribbon Project to remain low, or become even lower A consistent branding strategy in the future. helps to send clear messages to the The work of rehabilitating ex- community so that everyone can offenders is an ongoing effort. What easily relate to helping ex-offenders it takes to make it work is passion and their families reintegrate into and a collective effort, as well as society. The strong brand of the YRP developing one initiative at a time. has enabled its reach to extend far and wide in the community. This article is adapted from a paper presented by the author at the 147th International Senior Seminar organised by the United Nations Far East Institute for the Community Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Through the sharing of ex- Offenders (UNAFEI) in January 2011. offenders’ testimonies (successes and failures) and stories of the plight ENDNOTES families face, especially the impact 1 As the Tattoo Removal Project is meant for of incarceration on children, the inmates who are serious about leaving their gangs, only inmates who have publicly renounced their community can better appreciate the gang membership in prison will be considered for reality of incarceration. This in turn tattoo removal. goes a long way towards helping them to understand reintegration issues faced by our inmates.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 61 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES EDITOR’S NOTES

Desmond Chin joined the Singapore Prison Service in 1990 after graduating from the Department of Social Work and Psychology of the National University of Singapore. He served as the Superintendent of Chief-of-Staff on 1 July 2010.

page 62 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES A Symbiotic Edge in !e Fight against Drug Abuse: !e Alliance between National Council against Drug Abuse and Central Narcotics Bureau

NCADA AND CNB

or the past 16 years, the an uphill task due to the burgeoning alliance between the Central number of heroin abusers and FNarcotics Bureau (CNB) and the National Council Against Drug by the anti-drug laws. A number of Abuse (NCADA) has proven to be bold and pioneering initiatives were enacted to combat this, ranging from drugs. Both agencies possess unique the new Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) capabilities and use them jointly passed in 1973, to the introduction and separately to stamp out the drug of the death penalty two years later. Concurrently, enforcement was the innovation provided by NCADA stepped up to purge the streets of complement each other whilst drugs, reaching a peak in 1977 when creating synergy between the two Police, Customs and CNB conducted agencies. The partnership between a successful massive joint operation CNB and NCADA is a tale of two erstwhile unlikely acquaintances that drug abusers. In 1977 alone, more met 16 years ago and forged a strong than 7,000 drug offenders were partnership. arrested. The drug situation has since EARLY YEARS OF CNB AND improved from the high numbers of NCADA more than 6,000 abusers arrested in he Central Narcotics Bureau the 1990s to 3,326 abusers arrested (CNB) was formed in in 2011. This means the drug arrest TNovember 1971 during the rate has overall decreased from a high height of Singapore’s confrontation of 208 per 100,000 in 1994 to 88 per with drugs. Its prime role then was 100,000 in 2011. to arrest the growing demand for and In August 1993, the Ministry supply of drugs through enforcement of Home Affairs (MHA) set up the Committee to Improve the Drug

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 63 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Situation in Singapore, chaired Initiatives were emplaced to spread by then Parliamentary Secretary the message on two levels that Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee. The review committee came up was to ensure that the general with four key strategies that would population, especially the young, integrate the work of different was aware of the ills of drug abuse government agencies for greater and the consequences faced by drug offenders. The second was enforcement and tough legislation, preventive drug education, treatment risk” groups, to reinforce the dangers and rehabilitation, and aftercare. and consequences of drug abuse, and These strategies constituted the role loved ones play in helping the anti-drug master-plan which potential drug abusers stay away represented Singapore’s overarching from drugs.1 strategy to effectively target the For those who fall outside the net entire spectrum of drug offences of PDE, enforcement efforts were from both angles of demand and beefed up, with key threats such as supply reduction. This was also the supply lines of drug syndicates Prevention Drug Education for CNB. Drug offenders who were (PDE) into Singapore’s drug arrested also had to be placed on a control framework, recognising proper treatment and rehabilitation that upstream intervention is program to ensure that they did not just as important as downstream stray back onto the path of drug enforcement intervention where drug abuse. Lastly, aftercare and continued abuse has already taken place. rehabilitation was given a boost by putting in place community structures These four strategies “ were enforcement and reintegrate ex-drug offenders back tough legislation, preventive into society. drug education, treatment This comprehensive and multi- and rehabilitation, pronged approach to tackling the and aftercare. drug problem continues to this day. CNB was tasked to lead “ the NCADA’S THREE ROLES country’s PDE efforts in 1994, to he idea of a National Council coordinate efforts across various to garner public support for agencies and set clear directions T for implementing effective PDE.

page 64 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES Seminar on Community Action and efforts, as well as opportunities against Drug Abuse, organised by for CNB to collaborate with a wide network of business contacts for that the formation of NCADA would PDE. In addition, to complement help the Government tap the views the government’s efforts, NCADA and feedback from the private sector commissions research, such as the and the community in general on inaugural Youth Drug Perception how to tackle the drug problem more Survey in 2009, to ensure that the effectively. national PDE efforts are targeted and effective. Lim Hock San, the National Council against Drug Abuse (NCADA) was Made up of community formed in January 1995, holding its “ leaders, NCADA serves as a conduit between up of community leaders, NCADA the community and the serves as a conduit between the Government. Council members community and the Government. use their diverse networks to Council members use their diverse help the Government gather networks to help the Government feedback and ideas from gather feedback and ideas from different segments of the different segments of the community community to enhance and to enhance and strengthen the strengthen the national national anti-drug strategy. anti-drug strategy. The Council has three roles. First, it functions as an advisory body for As Council Chairman Dr.“ N the government on measures and Varaprasad says: “Although NCADA strategies to curb drug abuse vis-à- is set up independently of CNB, in vis CNB’s role in providing trends reality the two work very closely and drug statistics on the current together as their objectives of a drug situation, knowledge on drug drug-free Singapore are closely abusers as well as information on aligned. Particularly in the area of the latest drugs. This relationship is preventive drug education, our efforts important as it ensures that NCADA are complementary and supportive of each other. Even in enforcement changes that may affect its decisions and rehabilitation, the two other legs pertaining to policy recommendations of Singapore’s anti-drug strategy, and its other functions. NCADA NCADA provides its inputs and provides the views of community feedback to CNB as well as Prisons.” leaders on CNB’s anti-drug strategies The Council’s second role is to

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 65 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES actively recruit community partners to collaborate on key anti-drug initiatives is the Club Against Drugs launched in 2000 to address the issue of drug abuse in night entertainment partnered numerous club operators to promote the anti-drug message among their patrons, highlighting the dangers of drugs and the penalties In 2011, the Clubs against Drugs Students hard at work, building the binder clip Campaign “Party Clean, Party Again. sculpture. Are you in?” once again rallied Singapore’s entertainment outlets to educate their patrons to have good clean fun on their premises. Some 200 pubs, clubs and karaoke operators, an increase of 33% from 2010, have inked their support for the islandwide campaign. These 200

supporters come from all corners Representatives from the Singapore Book of of Singapore, including Azzura and Records taking a look at the completed binder clip sculpture. Café del Mar in Sentosa, as well as the latest clubs in town, including Avalon and Avatar. This campaign follows on the Partnership for a Drug Free Singapore that NCADA launched in 1997 to work with the media and communications industry to DanceWorks! 2010 Category II Grand Finals use innovative advertising to reach Champion. out to the masses. This campaign received wide publicity in the media posters and booklets, which received and support from the public, evident numerous local and international from the media materials generated, accolades as well positive feedback including TV and radio commercials, from the public.

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Teams that made it into the DanceWorks! 2011 Grand Finals. Crowd supporters showing support for the participating teams during DanceWorks! 2010. to reach out to ‘high-risk’ students in secondary schools and Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs). Besides these ongoing efforts, both NCADA and CNB encourage schools to commemorate the Anti-Drug Abuse Day annually on 26th June, which also marks the start of the month- long Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign. In DanceWorks! 2011 Category I Grand Finals Champion. 2011, the theme for the Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign was ‘Life Does Not Third, NCADA is tasked to Rewind. Make The Right Choice’. To promote preventive drug education commemorate the Anti-Drug Abuse programmes. The dictum “Prevention Day, students from six secondary is better than cure” is central to both schools and Singapore Polytechnic NCADA and CNB’s efforts against joined hands in a record-breaking drug abuse. Each year, the Council attempt to build Singapore’s largest works closely with CNB to develop binder clip sculpture at Toa Payoh a holistic approach to propagate HDB Hub Mall. the anti-drug message. The PDE The highlight of NCADA’s and programmes are targeted towards CNB’s collaborative preventive the masses with special attention drug education efforts is the given to the young as they are more annual nationwide anti-drug dance likely to be susceptible to negative competition, DanceWorks! The competition aims to encourage part of the programmes, CNB holds youths to lead a healthy and drug- assembly talks and exhibitions to free lifestyle. Performances are increase awareness on the harmful recorded and aired on television effects of drugs. In addition, joint in order to widen outreach and talks are held by the Police and CNB increase publicity. An episode

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 67 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES of DanceWorks! was shown on to build broad awareness of the 2 in 2010 and was anti-drug message and encourage subsequently increased to four in societal attitudes that will help bring 2011. Students who are non-dancers Singapore closer to the goal of a can also take part in pre-event drug-free society. competitions such as the “Anti-Drug From 1997 to 2009, NCADA’s media campaigns used different and “Anti-Drug T-Shirt Design themes. This ranged from approaches Competition” (2011). These fringe that evoked a person’s fear by means activities allow a larger group of of harrowing images of how a drug youths to be exposed to the PDE abuser suffers, to softer approaches message. that appeal to a person’s emotions, such as showing family members campaign under the Partnership for suffering as a result of a drug a Drug Free Singapore programme, abuser’s actions. NCADA has been able to harness the creative genius of top advertising PREVENTIVE EDUCATION agencies in Singapore on a pro-bono IS A LONG TERM basis to create anti-drug messages INVESTMENT that leave a lasting impression on he overall local drug situation youths. The media campaign aims today is a vast improvement to educate Singaporeans on the Tfrom the peak seen in the dangers and consequences of drug 1990s. While tough enforcement abuse through various platforms of against drug abusers will continue, the mass media. NCADA’s media campaign plays a vital role in helping tackling the drug problem. PDE

Source of posters: “In Retrospect” (NCADA, 2006)

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Source of posters: “In Retrospect” (NCADA, 2006) represents the long-term strategy to and that the government should safeguard Singapore’s philosophy punish them. When asked their views of zero tolerance against drug abuse vis-à-vis continual enforcement and Singapore, more than half of these prosecutorial measures. In fact, the youth respondents felt that they have effectiveness of PDE is clear from been appropriately treated. the success of the various joint PDE 85% of the youths whose parents projects like DanceWorks! and Anti- have spoken with them on drugs and Drug Abuse Campaign. Feedback drug abuse said that their parents from the participants of these events show that they understand and have views of drugs and drug abuse. This internalised the dangers of drug abuse illustrates the importance of the in a manner resonating with the youth role of parents in shaping teenage of today. perceptions of drug and drug-abuse. Perception Survey3, which 1,688 The Challenges students from 18 secondary schools espite the successes over in Singapore participated in, reveal the last two decades, CNB support for Singapore’s stance Dis facing various challenges against drug abuse. Almost 89% ranging from macro externalities such of the respondents felt that it was as an increasingly worsening regional unacceptable for drug addicts to drug situation, to increasingly continue taking drugs, as drug-taking liberal attitudes towards drug abuse is not simply their personal decision amongst the younger population.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 69 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES These challenges are also more methamphetamine in the last three daunting with the release of repeat years. In 2010, some 442 ATS- drug abusers from the long-term related laboratories were seized in imprisonment4, which a group that the East and Southeast Asian region, traditionally has a higher relapse and contamination rate. 83 manufacturing facilities seized The shifting of attitudes towards drug abuse has in many ways led to World Drug Report 2011, seizures an increasing number of young drug of methamphetamine in this region abusers. While the number of new increased by more than one-third drug abusers arrested registered a from 11.6 tons in 2008 to 15.8 tons in drop of 17 per cent from 1,327 in 2009; this accounted for about half of 2010 to 1,104 in 2011, the number of global methamphetamine seizures. new young abusers in 2011 that are These regional developments may below the age of 20 have increased have indirectly led to an increase in from 155 in 2010 to 225 in 2011.5 the supply of methamphetamine and Worsening global drug situation fact, there has been an increase in Regionally, Singapore’s proximity the number of combined seizures to opium-producing areas such as both inland and at the entry points. the Golden Triangle continues to In 2011, the total seizures for heroin represent a constant threat of heroin and methamphetamine was 72.6kg spillovers. According to the United and 14.01kg respectively compared to 49.02kg and 5.59kg respectively in 2010. The total value for drugs seized Survey 2011, opium cultivation in in 2011 was estimated at $16 million. the region has increased from 27,700 These developments may also hectares in 2007 to 43,600 hectares have led to the increase in the number in 2011. of heroin and methamphetamine Besides heroin, the supply of abusers in Singapore, from 1,787 and methamphetamine in the region 702 respectively in 2010 to 1,899 and 1,124 respectively in 2011. report on Patterns and Trends of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants and Shifting attitude towards drug abuse There are also challenges posed by indicates that the East and Southeast the increasingly liberal perceptions Asian region has grown into a major and attitudes of society, perpetuated by the prevalence and outreach of

page 70 HOME TEAM JOURNAL PARTNERSHIP FEATURES today’s mass media. Such a shift in perceptions may create a situation One way the partnership where societal acceptance of drug “is gearing up for this is by abuse becomes more prevalent; being aware of the arguments the implications involved will be presented by these groups enormous considering the growing and countering them with number of young abusers that may be hard facts about drug abuse, destroying myths and In the 2009 Youth Drug Perception showing in our Preventive Survey, an encouraging 87% of Drug Education efforts the respondents said they would refuse stark reality about drug drugs even if it resulted in the loss abuse as evidenced by the of some friends. Yet, in the last few lives of those who have been years, we have seen a rising trend of destroyed by drugs. young drug abusers. We therefore place great Finally, we need to keep in mind“ importance on successful community that there will always be differing outreach initiatives to retain public views and groups who lobby for acceptance of our zero-tolerance their respective causes. What is more pertinent is the need to question if partnership is gearing up for this these arguments are supported by is by being aware of the arguments substance and facts. Despite all these presented by these groups and arguments, it is very hard to refute countering them with hard facts the reality that drug abuse leads to about drug abuse, destroying myths misery and destruction of not just and showing in our Preventive Drug the individual but ultimately his or Education efforts the stark reality her entire family in the process. We about drug abuse as evidenced by have seen this happen often enough the lives of those who have been and this constantly reminds us of the destroyed by drugs. critical need to protect our society This approach of highlighting the from such a scourge. misery brought about by drug abuse has the greatest deterrent effect as MOVING FORWARD it is something everyone from any ynergistic relationships are walk of life can identify with. Even crucial when it comes to the most ardent critic would have a hard time refuting such experiential S Singapore. CNB and NCADA each ‘facts’.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 71 PARTNERSHIP FEATURES have their own areas of expertise. The want polices to reduce drug-related ongoing relationship for the past 16 harm without necessarily requiring years is predicated on the belief that abstinence - are gaining traction in both agencies have a role to play in liberal democracies as they press for the legalisation of ‘soft drugs’ and controversial programmes and possess a plethora of knowledge such as supervised injection sites. on drugs, there still remains a need for But despite this pall hanging over a group consisting of key members the international drug scene, the from the community to coordinate symbiotic relationship between CNB and devise anti-drug strategies. The and NCADA has given Singapore’s diverse backgrounds of Council war on drugs an enduring edge. members ensure that alternative ideas Both agencies have emerged from are always taken into consideration. In addition, the inclusion of NCADA against drug abuse with hard knocks in the formulation of policies ensures and battle-scars. The experience that both the Ministry and CNB are gained will be pivotal for CNB and able to tap on the experiences of its NCADA in maneuvering through Council members. This is crucial to the new, unchartered territories. rapid turnaround that Singapore has seen in its ongoing effort against drugs. ENDNOTES Today, drug abuse remains 1 Tan, a challenge for Singapore. The Singapore’s Fight Against Drugs. Singapore: SNP situation in other countries has Editions evolved and is rapidly changing. 2 is a free-to-view television channel in Countries such as Afghanistan and Singapore targeted at children and teenagers. Myanmar have seen ramped up 3 The 2009 Youth Perception Survey was commissioned by NCADA to learn about youths’ production of heroin in the past perceptions of and attitudes towards drugs, drug few years. The increasing supplies taking and our drug laws. of heroin does not augur well for 4 The policy was introduced as a form of Singapore as our efforts may become deterrence and to keep hardcore abusers away from the general population. 5 See Home Team News, http://m.hometeam.sg/ our borders. In addition, the voices article.aspx?news_sid=20120203TdSlcPlMchT9, of harm reduction advocates – who 3 Feb 2012.

EDITOR’S NOTES The article was jointly contributed by the National Council against Drug Abuse (NCADA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

page 72 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE Home Team’s Mr. Volunteer lays out his Plans for the HT Volunteer Network INTERVIEW BY HOME TEAM JOURNAL

together in a three-room coffee shop-type house with misty-eyed happiness. His school days also played a major part in shaping his views on helping others. He went to top schools, from Anglo-Chinese School to National Junior College and onto the law school at the National University of Singapore, but the youthful Ho Peng Kee was not ssociate Professor Ho Peng always a top student. Some would Kee, former Senior Minister say that this was to his detriment, Aof State for Home Affairs but Prof Ho prefers to consider it and Law, takes us on a journey his strength -- and attributes this to from his childhood as the eldest helping to develop in him the spirit son of an itinerant watch salesman to reach out to others and to help, to at North Bridge Road, through his volunteer. school days, his entry into politics and his new role as Chairman of the It’s not just about Home Team Volunteers Network. “studies, you know. Life The journey has a common theme: is there for you to live Volunteerism. fully and in order to In his own words: “Volunteerism be fair to yourself. You is just one way of expressing just don’t want to have what life has been to me. I must a legacy where you are be thankful; I came from a family known as a person who which has provided well for me.” He is just for yourself. remembers those growing-up years You are also there in a family of 10 people cramped for others.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL“ page 73 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE He was an active student and Home Team Journal: Professor, was class monitor, school prefect, how did you get involved in student counsellor, stage actor, volunteerism? debater and university law club member at various stages of his A/P Ho: It all started with my academic life. He was an active two years at the National Junior sportsman too, something that he College, whose motto was Service has carried on today as well. “You With Honour. Those two years were know, I used to play basketball, catalytic in shaping me. The junior badminton, soccer, rugby, do the college concept was in its infancy. sprint and hurdles and throw the I belonged to the third batch and the shot putt as well. I studied hard, but spirit of service to country was high I also did a lot of extracurricular on the agenda. activities. From primary school and This carried on to the law faculty, secondary school to university and to especially when I became sub-dean the Army and to life thereafter, this and later vice-dean. One of my key has been consistent in my life.” He responsibilities was looking after is pensive and philosophical about the law students. Because I was also his experiences growing up. It’s not Master of a hall of residence at the just about studies, you know. Life University, I interacted a lot with the is there for you to live fully and in law students as well as hostelites. I order to be fair to yourself. You just encouraged them to be involved in don’t want to have a legacy where community service. you are known as a person who is Some thought I was mad. I was just for yourself. You are also there looking after a bunch of very active for others. law students in the day. Then, when This preamble to the bigger story I went home in the evening, I was of his new role is necessary because interacting with another bunch of it provides a context to not just the very active young men and women man, but his philosophy and the in a very close setting, because as a work he has embarked on after his retirement from politics in May 2011. Here are excerpts from his interview with hyper active students. You are with the Home Team Journal in on call: they knock on your door, November 2011: and you have to go and talk to them, solve them.

page 74 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HTJ: In your view, do you think this kind of volunteerism is evident important, the third is catalytic. There now? are lots of causes. These need to be highlighted so that people know A/P Ho: I think we are making about them. This is also what I am progress. Yes, we are not quite there doing in MinLaw [Ministry of Law] where I am involved in promoting the also need to take into consideration pro bono spirit amongst lawyers and informal volunteerism. That means law students. work being done by a lot of good people. Simple acts of kindness such HTJ: With Singapore being such a as helping your neighbours, friends, “pressure-cooker” society, and with colleagues. people, especially young people, HTJ: You are referring to daily acts working very long hours, how do of volunteering that do not have to be orchestrated or organised by volunteerism, or even think about volunteer groups nor receive media volunteering? coverage? A/P Ho: Yes, you are right. But, it’s A/P Ho: Correct. the spirit of volunteerism that I would like to see in Singaporeans. They HTJ: Do you see that happening in may not be volunteering at this point a big way? of time, but once they are a little more settled in their lives, they can A/P Ho: I think that is happening. To put aside some time to help. What is promote that or to foster that, a few very critical is to imbue in them the things need to happen. spirit of volunteerism when they are First, the cause. Second, the young, in schools, polytechnics and awareness. The cause has to be universities. publicised. Third, there must be Let me give you an example. active cajoling or encouragement. When I was the Master at NUS People are like that. Nothing like [NUS’ Kent Ridge Hall of having two or three people say: Residence], I got the student leaders Hey, let’s just give it a try. Let’s do to agree to hold a residential camp reading, for maybe, the educationally for children with cancer (Camp challenged. We can do it once a Rainbow) in the Hall. There was month. Fourth, the practical issues of timing, of your own responsibilities, to their credit, they agreed. After your work, your family. But we can leaving the university, the student

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 75 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE leaders from several NUS Halls of I can head the steering committee and Residence, inspired by the children we can actually try to do more. We and how fully they lived their can try and give everybody a sense lives, started Working In Aid of of greater focus and identity. That Leukaemia Kids (WALK) in 1992, not only are you a crime ambassador which then became the Children’s doing good work for the police Cancer Foundation. In 2005, they but you are also part of the Home approached me - by that time I was Team. That means to infuse in the already in politics - and asked me: volunteers what we have been doing “Prof, can you be our patron?” I with the regulars in the last 10 years - remember telling them: “Fantastic! Home Team pride and identity. You guys have continued to grow I held several dialogue sessions your volunteerism spirit! Yes, I with the Home Team volunteers will become your patron.” I had no where many good suggestions were second thoughts about it. That is what thrown up. These include having I mean. Get them young, and somehow, greater use of our volunteers’ portal somewhere they will continue that to create awareness of opportunities journey. It is not impossible to achieve to volunteer throughout the Home this kind of result. Team, holding a Volunteers’ Day and giving updates on Singapore’s HTJ: Can you tell us more about security situation at the dialogue your new role as the Chairman sessions. All these suggestions have of the Home Team Volunteers been implemented. For example, Network (HTVN)? How did that at my last dialogue session, I got an come about? give a talk on the security situation. A/P Ho: During my time at the Home The volunteers present appreciated Team, I was fortunate to interact that. The key is to foster a keen sense with many of the volunteer groups of belonging, ownership and trust in in Police, Civil Defence, CNB, both all our volunteers, whichever group formally and informally, but very or scheme they belong to. consistently. I met them at many Another useful suggestion that functions and got to know many of came out of the dialogues was an them. award for Home Team volunteers. When I stepped down from That suggestion grew eventually into politics, MHA wanted to continue a Minister’s award for volunteers. tapping my interest, passion and DPM Teo Chee Hean accepted the networking. I said: Why not? I’ll be happy to do so. Let’s start a network. out this year.

page 76 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HTJ: A/P Ho: All in, there are 15,000 recognition for our Home to 16,000 people who are doing Team volunteers. What are the voluntary work to keep Singapore future plans and ideas to grow safe and secure. They come from volunteerism within the Home all walks of life. Many of them are Team? busy people. Some are on Councils and Committees such as the National A/P Ho: We have just held a Crime Prevention Council and Volunteers Day. It is essentially an National Council Against Drug occasion to thank the volunteers Abuse etc. There are also those who and their families. Next year, we volunteer their time and expertise are planning a national seminar for in the criminal law committees. all of us to share best practices and Others do important ground work as Volunteer Special Constabulary, the HTVN will be a movement to Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit promote volunteerism in Singapore. HTVN will also promote good prison counsellors. Bringing them all causes. Hence, as part of Volunteers under one umbrella group helps to Day, we invited a speaker from the secure greater unity of purpose and “Dads for Life” movement, to talk cohesion, and it gives them a better about parenting because this has links idea of the big picture, which is to to youth crime. This can help equip keep Singapore safe and secure. them with information, tips, ideas that they can impart to their contacts, HTJ: As Chairman of the Home neighbours and friends. It can have Team Volunteers Network, what do a positive spill-over effect. We are you think your biggest challenge also planning to publish a book to will be? highlight the men and women who A/P Ho: I must say the mindset time to advance the cause of the part. The Network is a good start, Home Team. We hope their stories but we need to get more people to will inspire others to volunteer. come in and understand that keeping (Editor: The book was launched in Singapore safe and secure cannot November 2012. See page 93.) be just done by the government and some volunteers. It has to be a HTJ: Are you able to share some collective effort. statistics with us on the number of

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 77 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HTJ: On that point, do you think Government cannot solve everything. Singaporeans have been lulled The public is on the ground and they into a false sense of belief that the know what is happening. They can Government is solely responsible do something about it; that is where for security? We have not had a volunteerism comes in. terrorist attack. Potential attacks Then there was the case of the have been stopped because of good Yishun slasher. It was quite scary. intelligence work. The recent case of the Home Team trying to test the alertness of Singaporeans with Sembawang. I was Member of smoke in cars in the Shenton Way Parliament of Nee Soon East, so I area showed how unresponsive remember the episode quite well. We Singaporeans are to a perceived mobilised the community. In fact, threat. the community itself wanted to do A/P Ho: I would say that people something about it because a state of do see the different roles that the helplessness is not good at all. We government and the public can play. worked with the police and activated That is the overall setting. Beyond our Citizens-on-Patrol teams. These that, there are examples where people efforts helped steady the ground. can play a bigger role. Let me give you two examples. The Community many other examples. Safety and Security Programme For counter terrorism, our (CSSP) is one area where people can message is that you must realise work in tandem with the government. the police cannot be everywhere. In We had this problem with arsonists many of the past incidents, whether in Mumbai, Bali or Jakarta... there some housing estates. We formed were points when ordinary citizens a CSSP group with the help of the could have done something to community to stop the menace. mitigate or even prevent the attacks. The CSSP premise was simple The taxi driver or the person in – vigilance. Essentially, you get the the hotel lobby could have done cooperation of households within something. the estates who take different times to patrol and keep watch. And HTJ: So you are saying that the this initiative succeeded. So it can community has a pivotal role to be done. That is why I am fairly play should an attack occur here? Singaporeans can embrace. The

page 78 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE A/P Ho: Yes. And a lot of work has we want to identify the best practices been done in this area. You have the of volunteerism and get everybody Community Engagement Programme to accept and practise them. Third, we want to make volunteerism a makers, the grassroots and religious national effort, not just a Home Team leaders, media personalities, leaders one. I want to repeat what I said in the unions and schools, they are all earlier: Volunteerism should be a part of the CEP. part of our lives; it should be a way What we should also be concerned of thanksgiving, an expression of the about is long drawn-out tension. That talents in our volunteers. If we can is when Singapore will be tested as a achieve these goals, then I will be a society and it is not just about race. It happy man. is about whether Singapore can pull together as a society. It is about the fabric of society.

HTJ: how would you measure the success of your efforts say, in 5 to 10 years’ time?

A/P Ho: First, fostering a strong spirit of volunteerism in more people would be a good indicator. Second,

EDITOR’S NOTES

Since the Home Team Journal’s interview with A/P Ho Peng Kee in November 2011, he has spearheaded several initiatives within the Home Team Volunteers Network (HTVN) that highlighted the work of the Home Team (HT) and its volunteers. This includes organising several visits to HT establishments such as Prisons Cluster A, Tuas Checkpoint and SPF’s K-9 unit. Such visits provide HT volunteers opportunities to see the other work of Home Team and to foster pride as a HT volunteer contributing in a bigger mission. On 3 November 2012, leaders, attended by more than 200 participants, to discuss the issues facing volunteer leaders. During the conference, A/P Ho launched a book chronicling stories of volunteers in the Home Team, entitled “Many Hearts for Home – Stories of Home Team Volunteers”. The book serves

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 79 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE I Love a Cop, Revised Edition: What Police Families Need to Know

BOOK REVIEW BY KOH YAK LENG

n a stimulating and thought- and dispute. So unpredictable, too, is provoking book, I Love a Cop, our mood that it can be exhilarating IWhat Police Families Need to one moment (with a successful arrest) Know (2006), Dr. Ellen Kirschman and depressing the next (having to cautions us that while a Police job manage a tragic death). may be a noble calling, we must In gist, the book provides readers never underestimate the toll it can with an insight into the impact our take on our loved ones and our job can have on our personalities personal well-being, as our job is and behaviour. In examining these inherently not family-friendly. Our changes, the author shows that the long working hours, unpredictable qualities that make us good cops – schedule and crisis-driven mission, such as hyper-vigilance, emotional along with the immense public control, command presence, and a scrutiny and propensity for injury, sceptical attitude - can all conspire can have adverse spill over effect on to distort our world view by our family. There is also substantial mental strain on our loved ones, who stereotyping of people into good or have to endure the worry, loneliness, bad, and the blunting of our emotions. and the need to contest for time and The book highlights how attention with our all-consuming excessive personality traits such as Police occupation. cynicism about human goodness can A Police career may be so self- result in our being over-protective absorbing that even off the beat, an of our loved ones, impeding their As a result, our family may feel that healthy growth and limiting their socialisation. Trained to see risk our never ending job. Not only do family issues that crop up not get anticipate problems, and often fail the attention they deserve, they can to enjoy the moment. Acclimatised quickly become sources of irritation to issuing and receiving orders, we

page 80 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE The contradictions of schooled in appreciative inquiry and feeling powerful and powerless empowerment. simultaneously is daunting - powerful These are fairly universal because of the powers vested upon occupational hazards that many us and powerless because of intense policemen will recognise in scrutiny, absolute compliance to themselves. Dr. Kirschman’s Standard Operating Procedures pioneering work – “I love a Cop” (SOP), and the need for transparency. many police forces across the United sense of betrayal when simply doing States. Many now have psychological their job results in being investigated counselling units to work with their by Internal Affairs because certain criminal elements have learnt to Note: The Singapore Police started a exploit the organisation’s need to be transparent. 1993. See Information Box at the end of the review.) Organisational Politics But sometimes, organisational While politicking is everywhere, culture, which is really a sub-set of our societal norms, can aggravate our heightened sense of fairness and these latent personal issues brought justice. on by the job. In the Singapore Promotions by: Due to the transparency of our promotion system, non-promoted Call of Duty Absolute dedication to work and the perceived failure, their families, team is paramount and reinforced by too, sometimes share the humiliation. our culture of giving priority to the Taken together, work stresses can “call of duty” (now renamed “always potentially manifest themselves into the mission”). This results in the serious domestic violence and alcohol paradox of alienating the very people abuse. we are working so hard to provide For example, use of necessary for. This is exceptionally pronounced force and verbal command are during prolonged deployment, and endorsed tools in our Use of Force spouses have it worst holding down the fort and being seldom recognised become so accustomed to applying for their contributions. these skill sets that they forget it is Frontline vulnerabilities inappropriate to intimidate or shout

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 81 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE at their loved ones. Physical abuse is, behaviour and performance, so they of course, completely unacceptable. become less susceptible to other Unless in self-defence, there is opinions and scrutiny; This is not a book espousing use force necessary to subdue violent “the negatives of a policing behaviour. career. Instead, it is a road map to help us recognise also seek to compensate their and understand the pitfalls professional failings with dictator of a Police career, enriched styles of relationships at home, in an with survival tips to help unconscious attempt to reinstate their us navigate every bend in control and self-worth. And victims our careers and family life, often resist reporting out of fear of and hopefully help us reap retaliation and economic deprivation the handsome rewards and should their spouses lose their jobs. satisfaction that can come While the Singapore Police as with a distinguished career a whole does not have an alcohol as a police officer. problem, it is understandable that • Don’t over-associate with police“ to drink to relax, and the need to work. Instead, pursue well-being maintain an invincible image may as life goals, and understand that our worth as a human being is not their problems and seek respite in contingent on our success as a police alcohol. In her book, Dr. Ellen Kirschman • Understand that our police culture, proposes some tested and proven tips: which values the stereotypes of • Take periodic vacations with your masculinity and youth, and being loved ones, so as to bond with them tough and non-complaining, may and to give undivided attention to make seeking help prohibitive. So each other; help to look out for each other and • Communicate openly and seek help promptly. honestly; • Police families have to be tough, • Allow space and time to decompress after work, including the better their support systems, playing sports or retreating into our including support from the policing personal sanctuary; community, the more successful they • Discuss with children police will be; work and our expectations of their Do not get me wrong.

page 82 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE This is not a book espousing the negatives of a policing career. Instead, it is a road map to help us recognise and understand the pitfalls of a Police career, enriched with survival tips to help us navigate every bend in our careers and family life, and hopefully help us reap the handsome rewards and satisfaction that can come with a distinguished

and consequently maintain and enhance their operational capabilities.

The programme’s philosophy is that police work is stressful and everyone are therefore not less capable than their peers. As the counselling programme develops, the scope has widened to include building lifeskills and enhancing

To further enhance the resilience and support system in the organisation, the This is part of the staff well-being initiative to create a caring and supportive work environment by making counselling more accessible to ground are trained in peer counselling and other relevant helping skills so that they are able to provide support to fellow colleagues in times of need. The programme now manages a pool of about 300 Paracounsellors and trains 50

Paracounsellors not only play an important role in supporting their fellow colleagues through counselling, but also render assistance during crises or critical incidents where they provide both practical and psychological support their role has also expanded to include morale management during major police deployments.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 83 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE EDITOR’S NOTES

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Koh Yak Leng is presently Director (Logistics) with the Singapore Police Force. He joined the Force in 1991 and was posted to as an Investigator, after his training at the Police Academy. In his 20-year service, he Squadron of ; Head Logistics Business Process Re-engineering Implementation Task Force; Deputy Director of Technology Plans in MHA; Deputy Commander of ; and Deputy Director of Manpower Department (Special Duties) concurrent Deputy Director of Police Technology Department (Special Duties). His last posting was as Commander of Tanglin Police Division in 2009.

AC Koh holds a Masters of Business Administration (Nanyang Fellows, Nanyang Technological University); Masters of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (National University of Singapore); a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering (NUS) married with 2 children.

page 84 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE I Love A Fire Fighter: What The Family Needs To Know

BOOK REVIEW BY YAZID ABDULLAH

r. Ellen Kirschman’s book, Singapore) face, there are also stark I Love a Fire Fighter: What differences. One key difference is Dthe Family Needs to Know the rich culture of the United States (2004), provides good insights into Fire Departments and their respective unions, which have been established much longer than the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). her vantage point as a trained clinical psychologist and consultant who the majority of the United States has worked with numerous public Fire Departments are staffed by safety personnel within the United volunteers, who see their job as more States, Dr. Kirschman’s book is a calling than just a career. well-positioned to raise awareness One key observation by Dr. of the psychological challenges in our line of work. The book serves to “married to the job”. She aptly notes encourage Fire Departments to reach that families need to be accustomed out to families. From a personal perspective, I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know but sometimes behave as though has certainly addressed the many cases where real families play second questions and concerns faced by families with loved ones serving in towards their work and work mates to substantiate her case. She further Dr. Kirschman bases her book points out that families need to manage this experience, and that States, and while there are similarities best to live with this profession.” This observation resonates with me on a personal level. I have spent Ocean (i.e. the United States and

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 85 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE Movies almost always depict the station, then subsequently as Station relentless danger and endless acts Commander of two separate stations of superhuman heroism, and the taking charge of several stations. I paramedics during the September recall my wife’s anxiety each time 11th attack would doubtless further I received a summons requiring my reinforce such fears. In the US, such fears are probably more troubling due I had to hastily leave many family to the higher incidence of injuries dinners and outings behind, including once when I was just about to clear the Woodlands Checkpoint for a family trip to Malaysia, to respond are able to deal with anxieties over their safety through support and a sense of belonging from fellow never off duty is a particularly real and pertinent issue and is something have to deal with. It is thus best that them such encouragement and reassurance. Being told not to worry their families’ expectations on the does not help. What is needed is divide between work and family. accurate information placed in proper perspective. Therefore, more needs to ... the observation that some “fire fighters are never off families and form support networks duty is a particularly real where families can best deal with and pertinent issue and is worries and anxieties. something that the fire fighter A key approach to help families and his family have to deal better understand and alleviate their with. It is thus best that fire worries is to explain to them the fighters sit down and manage their families’ expectations prepare them to overcome the risky on the divide between work and family. do undergo rigorous training that simulate real situations to condition It is only natural that families“ fear for the safety of their loved ones and families should be assured that such training is both holistic

page 86 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE and rigorous. There has also been description is indeed insightful in increased attention to safety over the providing families with a better years through acquisition of better understanding of the personality of equipment, protective clothing and their partners and how to better deal breathing apparatus and personal alert safety system. At home, the The book has been well received SCDF has also introduced mandatory United States since its publication as it is a pioneering work in providing carry out their duties. As Dr. Kirshman aptly states, culture and how it affects personal relationships. Apart from addressing also delves into how these issues can cause domestic concerns and they are all distinct and unique. anxieties. Crucially, Dr. Kirschman share common attributes and characteristics. Understanding these themselves to handle pressures, attributes may help us understand a challenging career. Dr. Kirschman extroverted and friendly, value teamwork with a strong need for interpersonal and social skills and are able to manage anger and frustrations in order to work as a team in their stations. Interestingly, Dr. Kirschman also notes that people who like to live at the border between order and chaos, who thrive on excitement and exhilaration, who control, who gain satisfaction from This

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 87 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE EDITOR’S NOTES Publications on Cooperative of SCDF Employees (COSEM). He has served in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for 25 years in various staff Home Team’s and frontline appointments. His last post in SCDF was as Director of Public Affairs where his main responsibilities involve the education of the population in emergency preparedness, media management and internal communications. Prior to the appointment, he was managing both the Training Department and Service Excellence Department. th Civil Defence community in emergency preparedness.

Yazid led SCDF’s Overseas Rescue Contingent for the search and rescue operations in ASEAN’s regional response to deal with the trans-boundary haze problem.

page 88 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE Publications on Home Team’s Community Partnerships

he following books were n 1, several published to highlight the of Singapore’s leading THome Team’s partnerships Oindustrialists, bankers, with various segments of the architects, journalists and women’s community. The books are available advocates were charged with the task in the Singapore National Library, of helping the Police reverse a rising the Home Team Library and major tide of crime. Known collectively bookstores. The National Crime as the National Crime Prevention Prevention Council (NCPC) and Council, these men and women, and Home Team Volunteer Network their successors, set about fostering publications can also be downloaded a culture of self-help, community from the organisation websites. policing and close co-operation with the Police. MAKING SINGAPORE Today, Singapore is one of the SAFE: THIRTY YEARS OF THE NATIONAL CRIME in 10 arrests are with the assistance of PREVENTION COUNCIL public-spirited individuals, “instant” volunteers who will drop everything to go to the rescue of those in distress or to stop a crime in progress. This is the story of how the NCPC has quietly worked with grassroots organisations, industry and the Government to transform an apathetic public into a proud movement of community activists. It explains how this bold experiment in harnessing the community complemented the Singapore Police’s “radical” move Marshall Cavendish Editions to neighbourhood policing, allowing

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 89 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE a zero-tolerance approach to crime stigma of having done time. They that is governed by public consensus, are released from prison or drug not fear. The NCPC story is also about themselves imprisoned by something how vulnerable groups – the old, the far more intimidating than steel bars, young, the guest worker – are being barbed wires and towering walls — prejudice. Viewed with suspicion, whether it be molestation, snatch thefts, phone scams, robberies or and reconciling with their loved ones. cyber predation. But all they need is a chance to prove It is the story of how the Council themselves. caused the ban on bar-top dancing to will soon be playing computer games in school. This book also tells the NCPC story in images familiar to all Singaporeans. Almost three decades worth of posters are reproduced in the book, explaining the evolution of one of Singapore’s most successful and enduring public education campaigns. Fans of Crime Watch will get a behind the scenes peek at how the No.1 show on Channel 5 is made. Shawn Wee, Looi Wan Teng and YELLOW RIBBON: Cavendish Editions TRUE-LIFE ACCOUNTS OF EX-OFFENDERS AND THEIR Yellow Ribbon is a book that SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE chronicles the lives of eleven ex- offenders in Singapore who have rug abuse, peddling, managed to break free of the smuggling, and even “second prison”. Through their own Dmurder: what happens after determination, the support of those those convicted of these crimes around them, and initiatives like the are released? They have done the Yellow Ribbon Project, they have time and paid the price, but can managed to overcome the odds and they really change? Upon release, secure for themselves, and their many ex-offenders struggle with the families, a better, brighter future.

page 90 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE CRIMINAL INTENT II: promising young boy end up slashing TRUE STORIES FROM someone with a samurai sword? CHANGI PRISON The offenders’ and ex-offenders’ frank accounts of what went wrong and how their lives – and those of their loved ones – have been affected make compelling reading and offer life lessons for all.

HEARTS OF RESILIENCE – SINGAPORE’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME

ommissioned by Singapore Prison Service in partnership Cwith the National Crime Prevention Council and written by Straits Times senior writer, Wong Kim Hoh, Criminal Intent II is a riveting interviews with offenders who are serving time in prison and ex-offenders who are re-building their lives after their release. bomb attack on a hotel. A What drove a man to fake his own bomb in a taxi. Or a bus. Like death? Why would a woman smother A attacks. Or if a plot to bomb an MRT station succeeds.

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 91 HOME TEAM EXCHANGE HOME TEAM EXCHANGE How would we react? Would o commemorate its 30th Singaporeans stay calm? And united? anniversary, the National Or would ethnic fault lines crack? TCrime Prevention Council Building networks of trust in (NCPC) organised an International good times is crucial. Building social Crime Prevention Conference in resilience is important in keeping November 2011 with the theme Singapore united in a crisis. That is of “Building Resilient Societies. what the Community Engagement Forging Global Partnerships”. The Programme, or CEP, sets out to do. theme was chosen to celebrate the This book describes the Singapore spirit of community involvement experience in reaching out to hearts that has enabled societies to stay and minds. As we fortify our hearts resilient, and importantly, keep crime of resilience, the CEP is a book that continues to be written. the importance of international collaboration BUILDING RESILIENT Speakers included Second SOCIETIES. FORGING Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran, GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS President Khoo Boon Hui and his Secretary-General Ronald Noble, as well as several serving and retired Police Chiefs from Singapore (Ng Joo Hee), the United Kingdom (Ian Blair and Stephen White) and Australia (Mick Keelty), leading experts in international terrorism (Ali Soufan), oganised crime (Paul Evans), cybercrime (Adam Palmer), corporate risk (Toby Bishop) and community policing (Taisuke Kanayama), as well as academics and practitioners specialising in resilience studies, cyber exploitation of children, and youth crime. Their presentations are collected in this volume of 20 essays covering Susan Sim, ed. (2012). National Building Resilient Communities, Crime Prevention Council The Singapore Story, Using “Old”

page 92 HOME TEAM JOURNAL HOME TEAM EXCHANGE and New Media, and Tackling Youth volunteer did just that…. from the Crime. life lessons prisoners taught her. Published as an ebook, This book shines the spotlight on men and women who work tirelessly Global Partnerships can be freely and, in no small way, contribute to downloaded from the NCPC website: the safety and security of Singapore. Our Home Team volunteers come from all walks of life but they share one common trait – dedication and MANY HEARTS FOR HOME: passion about their vocations. The STORIES OF HOME TEAM collection of stories in this book takes VOLUNTEERS a peek into their volunteer journeys, some exciting, some trying, some uplifting and enriching. Whether you are a volunteer now or had never thought of volunteering, we hope that you will draw insight and inspiration from the stories.

We can’t light up an entire room but you can light up the “space around you”. Walking through the darkness alone is never easy. Read about how one volunteer extended her hand. Want to deepen your perspective of life? One

HOME TEAM JOURNAL page 93

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS • 2013 ISSUE NO. 4

by practitioners, for practitioners

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN HOMEFRONT SECURITY AND SAFETY:

HOME TEAM JOURNAL • 2013 ISSUE NO. 4 ENGAGING HEARTS AND MINDS

A publication of the Home Team Academy

About the Home Team Academy The Home Team Academy (HTA) is a Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs that is committed to the training of Home Team officers in Homefront Security and Safety. The Academy aims to spearhead training in Counter-Terrorism, Law Enforcement, Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness. It also conducts a wide range of programmes, including Behavioural Sciences and Leadership Development.

www.hta.gov.sg ISSN: 2010-0167