20 move-on orders issued since Public Order Act enacted
Photo: Channel NewsAsia
SINGAPORE — Twenty move-on orders have been issued by the police since the Public Order Act was enacted in 2009, said Second Home Affairs Minister S Iswaran in Parliament today (July 14).
Nineteen people complied, and the one person who did not comply was subsequently arrested, said Mr Iswaran.
“Move-on orders have proven to be a useful means for the police to pre-emptively de-escalate potential public order situations and stop unauthorised activities that could cause public alarm or disorder in public places,” said Mr Iswaran.
“By issuing the move-on orders, Police were able to stop potential illegal actions and disperse those involved without the need to effect arrests.”
He was responding to a question in Parliament raised by Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Member of Parliament Christopher de Souza on how many times the police have exercised its “move-on powers” since they have been entrusted with such powers through the Public Order Act.
Mr de Souza also asked whether these powers have enabled the police to diffuse potentially violent situations and maintain order.
Mr Iswaran pointed out that before move-on orders were introduced, the police could either warn an offender and follow-up with post-event investigations in the case of a non-arrestable offence, or arrest an offender on the spot in the case of an arrestable offence.
However, Mr Iswaran said the first option “presented limited scope” for officers to prevent incidents from escalating and the latter option “limited the flexibility” of police action in cases where the offender did not pose a substantial threat and was amenable to counsel.
