Special Operations Command

KEY HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2006

The milestone achievements recorded by the Special Operations Command (SOC) in FY 2006 were unprecedented. Through the successful deployment of public order forces during the IMF-WB Board of Governors Annual Meetings 2006 or S2006, the Command came into its own as the definitive tactical and special operations authority of the Singapore Police Force (SPF), befitting its vision of being the centre for tactical excellence.

SOC continued to push its boundaries in FY 2006 through its spirit of innovation and as a result, registered many firsts not only for the Command but also for SPF. The most visible was the commissioning of the Police Tactical Troop’s new fleet of tactical vehicles (TAVs), which were operationally more agile, to replace the old convoys affectionately known as the “ang chia”. In the months of preparation that led up to S2006, new tactics of managing public order incidents evolved from the conventional methods. The result was the formulation and implementation of the Public Order Task Force (POTF) model, which SOC was instrumental in, for S2006. Made up of modular groups which are capable of providing proactive and reactive response, the POTF model that allows the Ground Commander to effectively deal with public order incidents on the ground. This ability to adapt to its ever-changing operating environment renewed confidence in the capabilities of the Command.

The successful deployment for S2006 did not come by chance or good fortune. The SOC officers were put through gruelling training and exercises that simulated public order incidents, which had taken place in previous IMF-WB meetings in other parts of the world, to prepare for the event.

SOC has also achieved significant progress on other fronts. The Police MRT Unit (PMU), which was established in August 2005, has made further enhancements to its patrol capabilities in FY 2006. A key development was the fruition of the vehicular patrols and plainclothes patrols. The vehicular patrols provide mobility to the officers and allow swift re-deployment of officers in the event of train disruptions. The plainclothes patrols, performed by retired police officers, not only expanded the unit’s tactical option, the use of retired officers also exhibited the unit’s innovation in utilising unconventional resources in the face of resource constraints. This enhancement has lent impetus to SPF’s effort in ensuring the nation’s transport network remains safe from undesirable elements.

SOC’s K-9 unit has further enhanced its operational capabilities with the development of cadaver detection skills in its canine partners. This new capability would augment investigative capabilities of investigators in the Criminal Investigation Department and the land divisions.

The Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) witnessed 100% success rate for all crisis incidents it had been summoned to mitigate in FY 2006. It has also been actively developing its capabilities in public order engagements for major incidents.

PLANS FOR FY 2007

SOC’s unrelenting spirit of innovation and resilience marked its coming of age in FY 2006, transforming itself from being the strategic reserve of the SPF into a modern and proactive force that it is today. The Command will continue to enhance its operational capabilities to face up to the challenges posed by the heightened global security landscape. Some of the new initiatives that will be explored in the coming years will include the K-9 Unit’s use of dogs to detect accelerants in arson incidents. CNU will continue to build up its expertise and look into developing new tactics and strategies in mitigating civil disobedience incidents, while PMU will work towards its vision of being a transport security command.