‘Community warden’ civilians to assist police with noise complaints
SINGAPORE — From the second half of this year, civilians could be attending to noise complaints, on behalf of the police, in Tampines North and Boon Lay, after Parliament passed amendments to the Police Force Act yesterday.
These individuals, known as community wardens, are among the two types of civilians the police will be allowed to draw on for assistance in certain kinds of cases. The other type are civilians with qualified skills to act as forensic specialists.
Speaking during the second reading of the Bill yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean said complaints about noise constitute a “very large proportion” of cases the police are called in for in neighbourhoods.
The new approach will be tested out in Tampines North and Boon Lay for six months, as part of a new initiative under the Community Disputes Management Framework led by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
Community wardens will, in general, assist the police in maintaining peace and order.
They will be given powers to record particulars, take statements from the parties involved and deliver composition notices, among others.
During the debate on the Bill, Dr Janil Puthucheary (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) and Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied GRC) raised concerns about getting civilians involved, including whether they will be adequately trained to handle cases.
In response, Mr Teo said the community wardens will be given equipment for self-defence, such as batons, and will also put on body cameras. They will also be trained in basic law, mediation skills and self-defence, he added, with their work and safety to be monitored by the respective police division’s operations rooms.
As for forensic specialists, they will be given powers to secure and search crime scenes, seize evidence, conduct forensic examinations and take statements from individuals.
Other amendments yesterday include stiffer penalties for those who evade police roadblocks. Currently, those who evade police roadblocks can be fined up to S$1,000 and/or jailed up to six months.
With the amendments, the penalty will be increased to a fine of up to S$5,000 and/or jailed up to 12 months.
