Police Community Roadshow 2025 – Speech by Mr Goh Pei Ming, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development

Deputy Commissioner of Police Alvin MOH

Grassroots Leaders,

School Representatives,

SPF Officers and Volunteers,

Residents of East Coast GRC

Good Morning.

Introduction

1. A very good morning to all of you. I am really delighted to be here to join you this morning at the second stop of this Police Community Roadshow. We have been doing this roadshow around the island. This is the second stop, and of course, where else to do it then here at HeartBeat@Bedok

2. It gives me especially great joy to be back here at Heartbeat@Bedok together with Kampong Chai Chee, this is where I spent many years as a Grassroots leader, involved in building a stronger community - HeartBeat@Bedok will always have a special place in my heart.

3. Last week, Minister Edwin Tong launched the “SaferSG, Together” national movement, which calls for Singaporeans, individuals and organisations to partner the SPF or police, to build a safer Singapore together.

4. And today, we bring the roadshow to Bedok, we bring the roadshow to East Coast, to build greater awareness of crime prevention, and to encourage everyone to part a part to keep our loved ones safe.

5. I want to give a special shout out to our youths today, because all of you are important to build strong volunteerism for a we-first society.

Community Policing – a Legacy We Continue

6. Community policing is important, public trust is important and these form the foundation for the SPF’s policing strategy.

7. The SPF’s strong partnership with the community, is the successful formula that has delivered strong security in our neighbourhoods.

8. You know, last year, in 2024, in two separate international rankings, Singapore was actually listed first and second in terms of public security and safety. And these are done by Gallup as well as the World Justice Project. These are renowned rankings, and they put us first and second.

9. In terms of the SPF’s internal survey amongst our residents, 97% of our residents say they trust the Police to keep Singapore safe and secure.

10. So, we are really grateful for the confidence that Singaporeans have in our police force, but we do not take this trust for granted.

11. Today, we look around, we see an increasingly complex security landscape. We see transborder, transnational crimes, we see online scams, cybercrimes - these are challenging threats, and we need to do more to face them head-on.

12. So, the police force will need, SPF needs all your support in working together hand in hand to ensure Singapore continues to be one of the safest or the most secure cities, homes, in the world.

Youths as Catalysts in a Safer Singapore

13. Now, a key part of our “SaferSG movement”, “SaferSG, Together” initiative, is to work together with our youths.

14. Youths are not only the leaders of tomorrow; you are the changemakers today. And the choices that our youths make today will shape the society that we all live in tomorrow.

15. Many of today’s challenges, from online scams to radicalisation, emerge in the digital spaces that our youths are very active in. That means our youths are often our first line of defence. They are the first ones to notice things are not going so well, and they can highlight when things are of concern, not just for themselves, but for their friends, loved ones, and our community.

16. And by engaging youths early, we not only build awareness, we can also build resilience, empathy, and responsibility -planting the very important seeds for leaders of tomorrow.

Sharmaine Chin

17. Let me share a story, a story of our 20-year-old Sharmaine Chin. I am highlighting Sharmaine because she exemplifies this spirit of service.

18. So, Shermaine began her journey with the NPCC, National Police Cadet Corps, in Yio Chu Kang Secondary School. What started out as just a CCA, soon became a deep and lasting commitment.

19. While pursuing her studies at SUSS she continued to go back to her alma mater, to continue to mentor her juniors in NPCC and today continues to motivate our next generation.

20. Sharmaine’s motivation is simple yet powerful: to nurture the next generation of youth leaders, just as she was once nurtured herself.

21. Sharmaine shows us that when youths step forward, they inspire others and prove that every act of service, big or small, can contribute and play a part in building a stronger community. Sharmaine, good job for all you have done. Please continue to do what you do and inspire many more.

Existing Youth-Centric Initiatives

22. Just like Shermaine, many more of our youths are stepping forward today through various initiatives.

23. For example, there is this initiative called #YouthAgainstScams, it is an anti-scam video competition where we saw nearly 400 different youths submit 180 creative videos of scam initiatives on how to counter scams on their own social media. Helping to spread powerful anti-scam messages that resonate and reach out to their peers, their friends.

24. Another good initiative, this time done by Bedok Police Division, is The Gryphon Initiative (TGI) Competition, or TGI in short. TGI brings together schools, brings together NPCC units, as well as Honorary Officers under our Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC), where we involve, through TGI, our youths to do anti-scam outreach and crime prevention campaigns.

25. And today, we want to celebrate this service spirit. We will be presenting awards to winning schools, we will be presenting awards to our youths for their outstanding achievements in these two initiatives.

26. We will also today be honouring our Honorary Officers under the VSC, Bedok Police Division. They have all done well and achieved top-tier awards in the various competitions.

SaferSG School Challenge: Growing a Movement

27. Now, building on the success of the Gryphon Initiative, the SPF will be introducing a new SaferSG School Challenge next year. SaferSG School Challenge will be extended to all the land divisions, to all the schools across the island, and will bring together youth-focused programmes under the “SaferSG, Together” umbrella.

28. Schools and youths will be able to participate in many ways - raising awareness in their neighbourhoods, joining patrols, designing digital content, we well as mentoring fellow youths.

29. And this will be a platform for collective creativity, passion, and purpose.

30. So of course all our schools, our youths, whether they are students, an NPCC cadet, or someone who just wants to do something more for the community you live in, this is where you can play a part.

PCR 2025 Highlights

31. Now, at today’s roadshow, the SPF has created an exciting line-up of family activities, exhibitions for everyone, young and old in the family. Walking through, I saw how children are enjoying the playground, the static display, the information boards, engaging and interacting, I think this is very good and very happy with the turnout today. So, please feel free to check out all the various information booths, speak to the officers to see what more you can do to help keep this estate, this neighbourhood, our homes, safe and secure.

Conclusion

32. In closing, I want to take the opportunity to thank the SPF, all our Police officers for the good work done, all our national servicemen, volunteers, youth leaders for your service. Your work, your contributions, often quiet and unseen, goes a long way in giving Singaporeans the very confidence that our home is one of the safest and most secure in the world.

33. And to everyone here today, especially our youths, please continue to do your part in keeping our home today and tomorrow, safe and secure.

34. Let us work together and build a safer and stronger Singapore, and we shape a home that we are all proud of. I wish you an enjoyable day at our police community roadshow.

35. Thank you very much.