Airport Police Division
By DSP Tan Mei Fer

Building Confidence in Our Airport Security
The Airport Police Division continued to maintain a safe and secure Changi Airport. Crime at Changi Airport was at a record low despite the all-time high passenger traffic in 2007 and the opening of Terminal 3 in 2008.

Securing a World-Class Airport

In 2007, Changi Airport was ranked third globally for ‘Thoroughness of Security Inspection’ and fourth for the ‘Feeling of Being Safe’ in a customer satisfaction survey conducted by the Airports Council International (ACI). This attested to the high level of confidence and trust that passengers have in airport security as well as APD’s commitment to safeguard Changi Airport with its robust security regime.

To realise our vision to be an aviation security specialist unit, we conducted comprehensive training programmes to equip our officers with the skills and knowledge to carry out audits and inspections on the airport operators. A total of 22 officers attended the Aviation Security Quality Control Course while 29 officers successfully completed the National Inspector and Aviation Instructor courses conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The Regulated Cargo Agent Regime (RCAR), with its enhanced security measures for air cargo security, was implemented on 1 April 2008. A new subsidiary legislation known as the Air Navigation (Regulated Air Cargo Agents) Order 2008 was gazetted to regulate the new RCAR.

Building an Organisation of Excellence

A strong culture of communication is essential in moulding a dynamic Airport Police Division (APD). In December 2007, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Goh Liang Kwang, launched the APDimensions newsletter during his annual command visit. This publication will facilitate communications both internally and with the community at large. APD’s innovative website also received top honours at the SPF Intranet Website Competition 2008.

Recognising the importance of a wellbalanced organisation, APD’s Unit Welfare Fund Committee was restructured into the APD’Light Committee. The new committee has organised various activities such as monthly visits to the Red Cross Home for the Disabled, overseas team building trips to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, and a Hawaiian-themed Family Day at Sentosa. But the committee will not be stopping there, with bigger and bolder plans for the future.

These activities were incentives for officers to further their contributions, leading to the Division’s attainment of an ‘A’ grading in the FY 2007 Unit Award Scheme (UAS) for four consecutive years.

Service Excellence was a key thrust of the APD in 2007, and we emerged as the winner of the Specialist Award for Best Service Excellence Unit. In the same year, our officers also bagged 34 awards under the Excellent Service Award (EXSA) scheme. These were real achievements, for our officers had to constantly strike a balance between enforcing stringent security regulations and meeting passengers’ expectations.

The Organisational Health Survey 2007 provided us with a timely assessment of our strengths and weaknesses. Through dialogue sessions with officers at all levels, action plans have been put in place to build an organisation of excellence.

Synergising with the Community

The Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP) was introduced at Changi Airport in January 2008. CSSP allowed APD to work closely with the airport community to ensure that the airport remains a safe place for staff and travellers.

New initiatives that were implemented to educate the airport community included the Security Awareness Seminar, the distribution of security pamphlets and the prompt dissemination of security alerts and bulletins.

We strengthened foreign relations by hosting visits from overseas delegates including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Australian Federal Police and the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council. In May 2008, we were invited to share our RCAR operating model at the prestigious Symposium of Best Police Practices in Dubai.

Meeting Rising Expectations in FY 2008

APD will strive to enhance its role as the vanguard of civil aviation security in order to meet the mounting expectations that lie ahead.

We are focused on building a culture of learning and openness in pursuit of organisational excellence as well as forging strong alliances with our partners here and abroad to build a strong and dependable Division, capable of safeguarding the security and success of Changi Airport.