Ensuring Full-Time Police National Servicemen, Police and Auxiliary Police Officers are Mentally Fit to Handle Firearms

Questions:

Mr David Hoe: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether Police Full-time police national servicemen (NSFs) authorised to carry firearms undergo mental-health assessments before firearms issuance and at set intervals during National Service; (b) whether peer or supervisor reports can trigger immediate temporary disarmament and review; and (c) whether Police NSFs have the same in-house mental-health resources as regular Home Team officers, or receive dedicated or additional support.

Ms Joan Pereira: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether routine checks are still being conducted on the mental health of police and auxiliary police officers handling firearms; (b) what are the latest measures to ensure that officers are fit to handle the weapons for each assignment; and (c) what are the support and treatment programs currently in place for officers facing challenges.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. During recruitment and enlistment, Police Officers, which include Full-time Police National Servicemen (PNSFs), and Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) undergo security screening and medical evaluation. Psychological assessment is also conducted for Police Officers and most APOs, including those from Certis Cisco, AETOS and SATS. Those who need to carry firearms have to undergo firearms proficiency training and pass an annual shooting test.

2. After recruitment and enlistment, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Auxiliary Police Forces (APFs) continually observe and evaluate the officers’ continued suitability to carry firearms. For example, supervisors monitor the well-being of their officers. Those who are suspected to be suffering from psychological distress will not be allowed to draw firearms. They will be redeployed to duties that do not require them to carry firearms.

3. The SPF places strong emphasis on the mental well-being of its officers. It has a Psychological Fitness Training Framework which maps out specific psychological fitness competencies for officers in their respective roles, and guides their psychological fitness training. For example, resilience and stress management training are provided to all new officers, and include detection of personal distress and suicide prevention. Officers also attend workshops and courses on how to cope and adapt when dealing with operational and work stresses. Supervisors are trained to identify and support officers who need help.

4. All Police Officers have access to a wide range of psychological support. These include in-house psychological services, peer support programmes where they can speak to fellow officers trained as para-counsellors, a 24/7 helpline managed in-house by our psychologists and para-counsellors, as well as external agency-administered psychological services. Officers who require psychological assistance are given prompt attention. In October every year, a month-long campaign is organised to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and self-care. This is to sensitise the officers to common mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicide, and the helplines that are available.

5. There are regular staff engagement channels and pulse surveys where officers can give feedback and raise issues faced in the workplace. The SPF takes staff feedback and concerns very seriously.

6. Within the APFs, APOs are provided with various avenues of support for their mental health as well. These include mental wellness briefings and training sessions, employee assistance programmes, supervisor and peer support networks, self-help resources, and access to professional counselling services.