Reinstating the Processing of Change of Address Requests at Neighbourhood Police Centres and Neighbourhood Police Posts

Question:

Mr Leong Mun Wai: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Government will consider reinstating the processing of change of address requests at Neighbourhood Police Centres and Neighbourhood Police Posts for the convenience of Singaporeans who are unable to or uncomfortable with doing so online; and (b) if not, why not.

Answer:

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

1. As Members know, there are severe constraints on Police manpower, and manpower across Home Team Departments. I have spoken about it repeatedly. Police have had to use technology to replace manpower, wherever possible.

2. In that context, the physical processing of change of address requests at Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) and Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) was digitalised in October 2020. Our services at NPPs became digitalised, and officers have been progressively redeployed. Police have also ceased processing change of address requests with effect from December 2020. These can be done at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Members of the public who visit an NPC or NPP with a request to change their address will be guided to go to ICA.