Police Custodial Department

KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2006

Custodial Operations for IMF-WB

For the IMF-WB Board of Governors Annual Meetings 2006 or S2006, the Police Custodial Department (PCD) was tasked to formulate a mass arrest support plan for the worst-case scenario of managing 1,000 arrested protestors. It entailed the development of innovative procedures to expedite on-site processing and provide appropriate custodial arrangements. The size and complexity of the issue necessitated numerous joint discussions and partnerships with external agencies, such as the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Prisons Department as well as internal collaborative efforts with the Criminal Investigation Department, Special Operations Command and Operations Department to put everything together in one comprehensive contingency support plan.

The plan’s feasibility was validated through a series of exercises. The exercises were a success and gave PCD the confidence that the support plan was robust enough for the actual S2006 event.

New Workflow on Management of Person-in-Custody (PIC) Property During Referrals

Arising from several cases of lapses in the management of Person-In-Custody’s (PIC) property in the Subordinate Courts’ lock-up, a new operating concept was introduced. Instead of returning the property to the PIC before he or she is referred from the land divisions to the Subordinate Courts’ lock-up, the PIC’s property is now handed over to the receiving officer upon admission, and sealed in a tamper-proof polymer bag.

Endorsed at operational trials, the new concept proved to be a win-win solution for both the land divisions and the Subordinate Courts’ lock-up. At the divisions’ end, precious time and effort were saved from not having to return the PIC’s property prior to referral. For the Subordinate Courts’ lock-up, the risk of failing to detect PICs with objectionable items in their possession was minimised, along with the inherent risks of lapses during property registration. Process-wise, the new concept proves to be more efficient, as the duplicate work processes of returning and re-registering PIC’s property were eliminated.

Other Highlights and Achievements

• Designed the Patrol Escort Tactical Response Van (PETRA) in collaboration with Operations Department    for the secured conveyance of PIC;
• Reduced the deployment of escort officers for ward duties at Changi General Hospital (CGH) Secured    Ward; and
• Conducted a review of the procedures and principles governing the conduct of searches on PIC to    ensure safeguards and adherence to international treatment standards.

PLANS FOR FY 2007

PCD’s work plans for FY 2007 are as follows:

i)     Implement colour-coded PIC wrist tags for easy identification and monitoring;
ii)    Promulgate amended Prison (Lock-up) Regulations to ensure consistency of legislature with existing        orders;
iii)   Develop a comprehensive Information Technology system – FOCUS II for enhanced efficiency in PIC        management;
iv)   Study the feasibility of the outsourcing of ward duties to free up police resources;
v)    Seek approval for the provision of on-site medical services in the Singapore Police Force(SPF)
       lock-ups for enhanced security and to free up police resources;
vi)   Acquire or develop a restraint device to secure violent PIC for enhanced security and to minimise injury;
vii)  Develop a Supervisory PIC Course with the Training Command for higher-level developmental training        for PIC Supervisors;
viii) Explore the concept of a centralised PIC-secured ward with Prisons and Changi General   Hospital(CGH) for enhanced security and efficiency in PIC  management; and
ix)   Conduct feasibility studies on the best-sourcing for selected PIC functions to free up  police resources.