Police Community Roadshow 2025 – Speech by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs

Introduction

1. Good morning, everyone.

2. Grassroots Advisor Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Acting Commissioner of Police How Kwang Hwee, our SPF partners and volunteers, the residents of Woodlands and members of the community, to our ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, families and friends, welcome.

3. Welcome, first of all, to the Police Community Roadshow, or PCR 2025.

4. This year, we are right here, in Woodlands – the vibrant, bustling, heartland of the North.

5. I am happy to see so many of you here on a weekend to share and to learn about the Police’s role in keeping Singapore safe and secure.

Singapore’s Safety and Security is Everyone’s Responsibility

6. Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world. This is well-known, well-documented, well-publicised both in international reports and in global indices. But, what is less stated, is how remarkable this is – for a city as busy and globally connected as Singapore – to achieve this extraordinary level of safety and security.

7. And, we must not take this extraordinary achievement that we have for granted. Safety and security in a metropolis of our density and diversity is never guaranteed. It comes from sound government policies, rule of law and effective policing by the SPF, anchored by strong public trust and partnership with each of you in the community.

8. Our mission of keeping Singapore safe and secure is one that calls for constant vigilance and collective effort from everyone. This is necessary because we are facing and we will face an increasingly ever-evolving threat landscape, with new challenges constantly emerging on the horizon – from the rise of cybercrime and online scams, to shifting road user behaviours and new security threats.

9. Public trust and community partnership have always been the bedrock of the SPF’s successful policing strategy. Our community policing approach has served us well.

10. In the SPF’s 2024 Public Perception Survey: 97% of respondents said that they trust the Police. 98% said they would step forward to help or give information to the Police that they believe, would help in their mission. These high figures – we don’t take for granted – but they reflect a strong and enduring trust and partnership built on shared purpose.

11. Ultimately, keeping Singapore safe is not a job that only one entity or one person can do. It is for every resident, every family, every business, and every organisation – all of us has a role to play, especially as criminal threats and security risks are evolving beyond the traditional boundaries.

12. Many have already stepped forward, and more are continuing to do so. But, let me share one example that I hope will inspire us to think about our own role in our community.

13. Sometime in June this year, Mr Yuen Jun Jie from MoneyMax – he was serving a 68-year-old customer. That customer came into the shop – he was looking to purchase gold, but there was something about this transaction and about the individual that made Mr Yuen think about suspicious threat indicators. First, it was the sizeable amount of gold that was being purchased; second, the hastiness of the transaction; and third, the general unease about the customer – he read his body language and looked at the customer.

14. Mr Yuen then recalled the SPF’s various anti-scam advisories – he thought about it, he remembered that there were advisories highlighting similar patterns in other cases. Sensing something was not right, Mr Yuen delayed the transaction. He slowed it down, and he took the time to lodge an electronic police report. It was subsequently uncovered that this victim was a victim of a Government Official Impersonation Scam. And, through his keen observation, his vigilance, and his willingness to do something about it, the Police were able to intervene swiftly and prevent the victim from suffering monetary loss of more than $20,000. This is just one of the many cases, where the vigilance of the community has helped to save someone from becoming a victim of online scams or crime.

15. Mr Yuen, unfortunately, can’t be with us today, but I would very much like to extend my appreciation to him, and to our many volunteers and partners like Mr Yuen for being active, vigilant and proactive and help to keep Singapore safe and secure. Each of your action count very much.

Launch of ‘SaferSG, Together’

16. Today, building on that experience, I want to share how all of us can take another step forward to make Singapore even safer, and even more secure.

17. To bring everyone onboard, we are launching a new national movement – ‘SaferSG, Together’. This will be SPF’s anchor programme to bring all community engagement initiatives and volunteer schemes by the Police under one united banner.

18. The message is very simple and straightforward – anyone and everyone can partner with the Police, to help make Singapore a safer place to live, work and play. You can step forward and be a SaferSG partner, by taking on any of the three actions – stay informed, take part, and step up.

Individual-level

19. As an individual, you can first stay informed by becoming aware of the latest crime information from alerts or advisories, and sharing the information with your friends and family. When you are aware, you are already a part of the crime fighting eco-system.

20. Sign up for the Community Watch Scheme as well, download the Police@SG app, or follow SPF on social media. These very small actions in your daily lives help keep us connected with the SPF, so you can protect yourself and those of your loved ones around you from becoming the next victim of crime.

21. Second, you can take part in our Police programmes and events such as at today’s roadshow. Join our counter-terrorism seminars and emergency preparedness exercises. By doing so, you can gain valuable skills to protect yourself, and your loved ones, and the community that lives around you. And by simply being here today — taking part in the exhibitions, the fun, the games, the awareness, the campaigns — you are already a ‘SaferSG’ partner with us, so be sure to encourage your families and friends to join the roadshow this weekend as well as next weekend.

22. Third, beyond staying informed and taking part, you can also step up to be directly involved in the mission of keeping Singapore safe.

23. There are many volunteer opportunities within the SPF. For example, join us on Citizen on Patrol (COP) – join us as a member and serve as the eyes and ears on the ground in each of your neighbourhoods, or contribute through the Episodic Volunteering Programme (EVP) — where you can lend your talents for short-term volunteering projects, such as designing educational content, raising awareness, supporting community outreach, or even helping out at roadshows like today.

24. For those of you who wish to partner the SPF at this highest level – come speak to the police officers and our volunteers, and they will be happy to share their experience with you, with the SPF.

Organisation-level

25. But, what can organisations and institutions do? I think they can do a lot to play a vital role in building a safer Singapore. They too can and have contributed by staying informed, taking part and stepping up.

26. Let me highlight some of our partners, in case you don’t know.

27. Take UOB – we know UOB as a bank. We deal with them, we transact, we bank with them, but UOB regularly shares crime prevention advisories, helping us to keep the community better informed. They do it through their own internal communication channels as well as digital displays at their branches. This helps us to spread our messages with not just the employees, but also with their customers.

28. The National Library Board (NLB) has used their spaces for the SPF’s Police Pal story telling sessions at libraries, where many children have enjoyed the interactive sessions.

29. Many organisations are also involved by developing and implementing safety and security projects and solutions in collaboration with the SPF.

30. Take, for example, partners like RSVP Singapore – the organisation of senior volunteers – they have mobilised their volunteers to help the SPF spread anti-scam advisories to more people. These are senior, senior volunteers, and they operate among their friends as fellow seniors, and they help to propagate and share information. Or even Gardens by the Bay – they have implemented the Threat-Oriented Person Screening Integrated System (TOPSIS) framework. They work with the Police, they do joint patrols, and by doing so, they enhance the safety and security of their premises, so that guests and overseas visitors enjoy the experience even more.

31. To all SPF partners, those in attendance and the many more out there, I want to say a big thank you for your collaborative community spirit – working with the SPF together to create a ‘SaferSG, Together”.

Highlights of PCR 2025

32. Now, finally, let me just highlight what’s in store at this year’s Roadshow.

33. I know many of you have already tried out at our different booths, but the SPF has taken care to put together a very exciting and meaningful suite of programmes and exhibitions and activities for everyone.

34. Parents with young auto-enthusiasts – I think you know we have a Road Safety booth where your children can test their driving skills at a very early age in a safe environment – get a sense of road safety knowledge at the mini-driving circuit – very popular. 35. You can also visit the Anti-Scam booth and try out the interactive games – these are designed to help you think about scams online and help to ‘immunise’ yourself against such scams.

36. This PCR is also meaningful in two other ways, and I thought I will end by sharing two milestones with you.

37. The first is 50 years of Full-Time Police National Service, or PNS. Our Police National Service is something we are very, very proud of. It has come a long way, since its humble beginnings in 1975 with just 200 full-time PNS officers.

38. Today, the SPF has more than 28,000 Operationally Ready PNSmen and 4,000 full-time servicemen.

39. Police National Service has become and will remain an indispensable asset to maintain Singapore’s safety and security, with our PNS officers regularly deployed for frontline incident response, as well as within the specialised domains, such as protective security, protection of key installations, and the fight against cybercrime.

40. Beyond PNS50, this year also marks the 100th anniversary of the SPF Band. We were entertained earlier on, but this year is the 100th year of the SPF Band. We are standing at more than 60 officers strong today and the SPF Band are the cultural ambassadors for the SPF at home, and for Singapore on the international stage.

41. Just last year, the SPF Band performed at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland as the only military band from Asia to do so – sharing the Singaporean identity and culture through precision performance and entertaining music.

42. To commemorate these milestones, the SPF Band and our Police National Service officers have put together commemorative booths, activities and performances for all of you to enjoy at this roadshow today.

Conclusion

43. Finally, in closing, let me express my appreciation, once again, to all our Police officers, our national servicemen past and present, our volunteers, our community partners – all of you mean a lot to the Police.

44. Your professionalism, your dedication, and your partnership with us have been key to Singapore’s continued safety and stability.

45. But, we must all also know that the work of keeping Singapore safe is never done. It is a shared mission that requires all of us — Government, Police, and Community — to continue to work together, strongy

46. Let us continue this treasured and strong partnership under the banner of “SaferSG, Together”, so that Singapore will remain as one of the safest places in the world to live, to work, to play, and to raise our families.

47. I wish everyone an enjoyable and meaningful day at the Police Community Roadshow 2025.

48. And once again, happy 50th year of Police National Service and 100th anniversary of the SPF Band.

49. Thank you, everyone.