Singapore Police Force - Counter Terrorism

Identifying Suspicious Persons

General Guidelines For Identifying Suspicious Persons

Suspicious persons can be detected by observing their appearance and behaviour. The following are some descriptions of how a suspicious person may appear and behave:

-	Wearing oversized or inappropriate attire that may conceal a hidden object (e.g. wearing a long heavy coat in warm weather).
-	Entering premises without prior notification or on the pretext of being engaged to perform some form of work within the premises.
	Loitering near premises or in the lobby of premises for an extended period of time.
-	Wandering within premises without a valid pass authorising entry.
-	Asking specific questions concerning the security of the premises (e.g. the number of security guards deployed at the premises and the type of security hardware installed at the premises).
-	Asking questions about the personal movement of a specific or prominent individual (e.g. arrival & departure times, vehicle licence number or parking lot number).
-	Not able to provide a reasonable explanation or are uncooperative when asked for their purpose of visit.
-	Making an unexpected delivery of a package to an office or to a specific person.
-	Placing an object or a parcel within or outside premises and departing from the area.

FAQs

Do I question a suspicious person when I encounter one?

You can ask for his / her identity and purpose of visit. Otherwise, it is advisable to alert the security guards of the premises and where necessary, call the Police. Note the appearance and behaviour of the suspicious person and provide the Police with these details. You should leave your contact number with the Police and be ready to meet the responding police officer at a pre-arranged location.

Q	What can I do if I decide not to approach the suspicious person but have alerted the Police?
A	While awaiting the arrival of the Police, you should discreetly observe the suspicious person and keep the Police updated on his behaviour and movement. You are advised not to tail the person if he moves away from view.

Q	What do I do when a suspicious person who claims to be a contractor, technician and so on, requests entry into the premises without proper identification?
A	You may ask the suspicious person the purpose of his visit and who had called for him to come. Thereafter, check the information given by the suspicious person with the person he had said he is visiting. In the event the suspicious person is uncooperative and tries to force his way into the premises, alert the security guards of the premises and where necessary, call the Police.

What do I do when a suspicious person asks questions about specific or prominent individual who is working in my premises (e.g. arrival & departure times, vehicle licence number or parking lot number and so on)?

If a suspicious person keeps asking about a specific or prominent individual working in your premises, ask the suspicious person to identify himself first. Next, quietly check with the person whom the suspicious person keeps asking about if he knows the suspicious person. If he does not know the suspicious person, ask the suspicious person to leave the premises. If the suspicious person is uncooperative and tries to create trouble, alert the security guards of the premises and where necessary, call the Police.

Q	What should I do if I see a suspicious person place an object or parcel outside any premises?
A	Do not touch or open it. Alert the security guards of the premises and where necessary, call the Police.