More housing blocks, car parks to get CCTV cameras this year

SINGAPORE: Police will install CCTV cameras at another 700 housing blocks and multi—storey car parks by the end of the year, in addition to the 300 locations announced last month.

This was unveiled at the Police Workplan Seminar on Thursday, by Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean.

Police plan to install cameras at all 10,000 HDB blocks and multi—storey car parks by 2016.

Meanwhile, six more neighbourhood police centres will be re—organised under the new community policing model by the end of the year.

They include four existing ones in Bishan, Clementi, Sengkang and Woodlands, as well as two new centres in Punggol and Woodlands West.

The Bukit Merah East and Tampines neighbourhood police centres are the first to be re—organised this month.

Under the model, each neighbourhood police centre will form a dedicated crime strike force and community policing unit to better fight crime.

Also announced at the seminar was new uniforms for traffic police officers to improve work safety.

The new attire will consist of a new riding jacket, breeches and a long—sleeved white shirt. A removable spine, elbow pads and shoulder pads will be secured within the jacket.

Sergeant So Weng Fai said the new jacket was "very comfortable" and the additional protection would give officers "more confidence".

During the seminar, Mr Teo said sustaining the community’s trust in the police was key to keeping Singapore safe and secure.

The police will continue to invest in its people by hiring the right number of officers and the people with the right qualities, he said.

However, Mr Teo cautioned that even with the best officers and training, mistakes may occur from time to time.

The key is how the force takes corrective action and prevents the mistake from happening again, he said.

However, some mistakes are intolerable.

"It is unacceptable if the mistake arises from a deliberate misuse of powers, unethical or self—serving behaviour," Mr Teo said.

"We will investigate and discipline such officers appropriately, to ensure that the Singapore Police Force is upright and honourable ... and to send the message that the Force does not tolerate wrongful behaviour in our officers."

— CNA/wk/wm