Measures to Prevent and Mitigate Deliberate Vehicular Ramming Attacks in High-Footfall Areas

Question:

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what measures are in place to prevent and mitigate deliberate vehicular ramming attacks in high-footfall areas, such as nightlife districts and public events; (b) whether the Ministry has conducted any risk assessments on the likelihood of such attacks in Singapore; and (c) if such assessments have been done, what were the key findings and action points.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regularly conducts threat and risk assessments to identify potential threats and areas of vulnerability. MHA implements practicable measures arising from such assessments.

2. It is not appropriate to set out all the measures that are put in place. Some of the measures include the following. Under the Public Order Act, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) requires organisers of events that attract large crowds, or are assessed to be of higher security risk, to put in place specific security measures. Depending on the nature and location of the event, concrete blocks or crash-rated barriers could be required to be deployed, and the entry of vehicles restricted.

3. Under the Infrastructure Protection Act, buildings which are assessed to be iconic or have high public footfall are required to incorporate security measures into their design and construction, or for existing buildings, when they undergo major renovation works. These measures include vehicle bollards to protect against vehicular ramming attacks, and closed-circuit television to improve detection and investigation.

4. SPF also conducts high-visibility patrols at events and areas of high footfall to deter attacks and enable swifter response. Since 2017, In-Situ Reaction Teams have been deployed at locations such as Orchard Road and Marina Bay.

5. Collaboration with our partners is equally important. As part of the Safety and Security Watch Group, SPF regularly engages building owners and stakeholders like the industry associations to provide advice on how to mitigate vehicular threats.

6. Public vigilance is also extremely important. The public has a critical role in the overall security environment.

7. The measures we take must also balance the needs of a free and open society, and the needs of security. For example, the entire city cannot be turned into a cantonment, nor is this possible. That means making some assessments, and trade-offs. It is not in the public interest for us to go into details of these assessments and trade-offs.