Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning,

The mass fitness workout is a refreshing and healthy way to start the day. I am glad that so many of you are here this morning to participate in the fun exercise, and join in the launch of Yishun North Neighbourhood Police Centre (or Yishun North NPC in short). Your support for this event is testimony to the close ties this community has with the Police.

The Neighbourhood Police Centres or NPCs are comprehensive one-stop policing centres, designed to look after the total policing needs of the community. Instead of the static presence of the old Neighbourhood Police Post (or NPP) system, the new NPC system has a larger number of officers that allows for more officers to be deployed on mobile patrols, which in turn covers more ground and effectively widen the visibility scope of the police. This NPC, for instance, has a team of 80 officers serving residents of Nee Soon East, Chong Pang, Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon South.

The NPCs have been well received. Two surveys on the NPC system found that 90 per cent of those living in areas with the new NPCs knew the benefits offered by NPCs and prefer the new advancement in the neighbourhood policing system to the previous system of operation based only in NPPs. Moreover, NPCs are strategically situated so that it is easily accessible to all residents within the assigned vicinity. With the NPC system, residents can expect faster response, immediate investigation, more frequent patrols and a sharper community focus. Since its setup last December, the Yishun North NPC has received positive feedback from residents who find the presence of Police more visible.

Crime has fallen and residents are getting involved in ensuring safety and security in their neighbourhood. Safety and security are at the heart of the community’s well being. The community has been working with the Home Team in identifying and addressing its own unique safety and security needs under the Community Safety and Security Programme (or CSSP). Initiatives include crime prevention, road safety, victim support, fire prevention, civil defence drills, drug education and care for families of incarcerated prisoners and drug addicts.

There are now about 43 CSSP initiatives implemented by residents and grassroot members within the area of Yishun North NPC. Community-based programmes, such as networking amongst the community agencies to create greater awareness of family violence, and CSSP initiatives to look out for suspicious characters in the neighbourhood were some examples of the many programmes implemented.

In Singapore, about 40 per cent of police cases were solved with the help of members of public like yourselves. Today, we commend Nee Soon East RC Zone 1 and Mr Tan Khim Huan from Trans Island Bus Service for their public-spiritedness. They have proactively exercised initiative to help Yishun North NPC arrest the culprits of one extortion case as well as several cases of mischief by fire recently.

I hope that all of you will continue to work closely with the NPC to keep this neighbourhood safe and secure.

It is now my pleasure to declare Yishun North Neighbourhood Police Centre officially open.