7 Singapore Police Questions Answered

Questions about Singapore Police Force units have been answered

As someone who grew up watching old-school Hong Kong police dramas, I’ve definitely toyed with the idea of joining the Force myself. Like many children, when I was ten, I saw myself in the shoes of the dashing Bosco Wong, and daydreamed about chasing perpetrators through the streets.

But in reality, donning the navy blue uniform isn’t just about looking friendly while bringing down the hammer on criminals. We answer some common ones questions and misconceptions about the different units of the Singapore Police Force (SPF)from discovering the SPF’s elite STAR unit to the technologies the Force uses to solve cases.

1. Are K-9 dogs the same rank as their handlers?

Image credit: SPF

You’ve probably heard it gets thrown around a lot, especially if you’re not familiar with the whole ranking hierarchy in the SPF. Even more absurd, you may have heard rumors that K-9 dogs are given a higher rank than their owners to avoid abuse.

The police K-9 unit trains their dogs to take on roles such as public safety dogs and narcotic detection dogs.
Image adapted from: SPF

This isn’t true, like K-9 dogs have no ranks at all. However, don’t let this detract from the fact that they are just as well trained as their supervisors. These loyal companions are carefully selected and then equipped with specialized skills to assist officers in their duties.

Both K-9 dogs and their handlers must train together for at least twelve weeks to perform their tasks competently. The process is crucial to forging and strengthening their bond. In addition to training, handlers also groom, walk, exercise and play with their companions to further build trust between officer and dog.

2. Why do only a small handful of STAR Unit students successfully complete the course?

Image credit: SPF

In case you didn’t know, operators in the Special Tactics and Rescue Unit (STAR). are the ones we can call on when it comes to operations such as rescuing hostages, arresting dangerous suspects and responding to security threats.

The STAR unit in action during a tactical demonstration.
Image credit: SPF

Because the STAR unit is committed to providing the SPF with the highest level of tactical armed response, STAR operators must be the best of the bunch. They undergo a tough selection process to ensure they are physically and mentally resilient so they can skillfully cope with a range of dynamic situations.

Interns from STAR Unit get to work during the selection week.
Image credit: SPF

As such only approx 10% of the interns Then become full-fledged STAR operators, but if you think you’re up for the challenge, don’t be put off by the exclusivity of the unit. The STAR Unit has been recruiting directly from the public since 2014 to expand the talent pool, so who knows, maybe you have what it takes to rub shoulders with the SPF elite.

3. Do the Singapore Police Force Specialized Units only accept men?

In short, no. The specialized units of the SPF, such as the Special Operations Command (SOC) and the Police Coast Guard, are welcome both male and female officers.

ASP Candy Ko proudly wears her well-deserved red beret from the SOC.
Image credit: SPF

It is certainly not unheard of for female officers to rise above their male counterparts and excel in these specialized units. Coincidentally, it was earlier this year that ASP Candy Ko became the first woman to complete the grueling 24-week Tactical Course and Armed Strike Team Course for the Police Tactical Unit within the SOC.

ASP Candy Ko, third from left, next to her troops.
Image credit: SPF

She overcame challenges such as achieving IPPT Gold, even after having just given birth to her son two years earlier. She also conquered the final 10-mile route march of the Tactical Course while wearing weighted vests and carrying weapons, proving to everyone that women in the Force are just as capable as the guys they train with.

4. Do Coast Guard Police officers work odd hours or multiple days due to their unique work environment?

Keeping watch over Singapore’s vast waters is no easy feat, and we have the solution Police Coast Guard (PCG) to say thank you for keeping our coasts safe all year round. They monitor the safety of our seas under the watchful eye of their eight staff divisions and twelve line units, and their officers have both maritime and active police duties.

Image credit: SPF

But you might be surprised to learn that PCG officers’ unique job scope means they spend as much time on land as they do on water. They take to the seas piloting boats such as the 5th Generation PT Class Patrol Craft, which can reach speeds of more than 55 knots, or 101.9 km/h.

Image credit: SPF

But staying vigilant 24/7 comes at a cost, as PCG officers may be required to work irregular hours and sometimes multi-day shifts to properly perform their duties. To combat this, PCG teams are structured to provide officers with mutual aid, so they can rely on each other for support during long shifts.

Fun fact: the PCG even has its own special forces, in the form of the Special duties squadronand there are currently three female officers who have made the transition to join this elite unit.

5. Does the Criminal Investigation Department use cool technology to aid their investigations?

As technology evolves, so do the methods used by criminals. It is therefore crucial that the SPF remains at the forefront by putting in place advanced tools to investigate crimes committed online.

Image credit: SPF

An example is the Cyber Guardian Lab, which was put into use in June 2023. This facility is intended to assist officers in processing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) as part of their investigations.

The laboratory provides access to INTERPOL’s image and video database for international child sexual exploitation and is equipped with CSAM processing software and a digital forensic kiosk.

Investigative officers can use features such as the Digital Forensics Kiosk to extract data from seized storage devices, and run an AI program to search the extracted materials and identify illegal or obscene material.

CSAM processing software further analyzes the material to determine if it has been previously indexed as CSAM. These tools significantly increase the speed and accuracy of investigations, allowing officers to more efficiently tackle complex crimes involving child sexual exploitation online.

6. Does the Singapore Police record and track every caller who dials “999”?

Image credit: SPF

We all know the dire consequences of dialing “999”, and that includes the SPF. They take calls very seriously, but not just because they want to apprehend pranksters or other hotline abusers.

Police officers have promised to respond to “999” calls indoors 10 secondsand to enter and respond to urgent incidents 15 minutes. As such, the SPF is obliged to trace the origin of the call to ensure the safety of the caller.

Image credit: SPF

Naturally, they will take appropriate action when it comes to dealing with deliberate pranksters, as these calls can disrupt the work of the officers, who may need to take immediate action in times of real emergency.

7. Since Singapore is such a safe country, is there still a need for officer training?

Because Singapore is so safe and peaceful, we often take its relatively low crime rates for granted. During lunch, take a look at the coffee shop near you; you will often encounter diners heels chairs with their valuables and yet no one looks at them, let alone pockets them for themselves.

Image credit: SPF

But this doesn’t mean our police officers can throw it aside and hang up their boots prematurely. She still needs to undergo routine training to keep themselves operationally ready so that they can deal with any possible emergency. SPF officers keep their skills sharp through regular training; these include tactical, physical, firearms and contact tactics training, to name a few.

Image credit: SPF

For more realistic simulations that mimic real-life scenarios, the SPF also conducts training in spaces such as the PCGs Entry and search trainer. It is a training facility that mimics the layout of a ship that PCG officers use to carry out mock missions, such as dealing with a hostage situation on board.

Consider a fulfilling career with the Singapore Police Force

If ensuring the peace and quiet of our Little Red Dot is something you want to pursue as a career, there really is no better place to look than the SPF. They have a range of specializations within their organization, so there’s bound to be a place for everyone within the Force.

Image credit: SPF

Dog lovers can befriend and team up with a furry teammate at the Police K-9 Unit, while those who find the ocean breeze particularly soothing will fit right in with the PCG. As an extra icing on the cake, the sign-up bonuses are also lucrative, such as Inspectors And Sergeants can expect bonuses of up to $20,000 And $35,000 respectively.

There are also a number of scholarship and sponsorship programs you can consider if you would like to continue your studies with the support of the SPF. Regardless of why you don the uniform, you can be assured that you will have a fulfilling and respected career where Singaporeans can sleep well at night knowing they are in your safe hands.