Written Reply to Parliament Question on Counter-Terrorism Training for Event Organisers by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Mr Ang Hin Kee: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry will organise compulsory training on counter-terrorism for event organisers, emcees and hosts so that they will be equipped with the knowhow to deter and prevent terror attacks; and (b) whether the Ministry will stipulate that evacuation routes and dispersal instructions be made known by the organisers at the start of large-scale events.

Answer:

1. Event organisers generally engage licensed security agencies and security officers for large events. These security professionals are trained in event security and crowd-management.

2. To raise awareness among event companies and freelancers, which includes hosts and emcees, MHA supported a Counter-Terrorism Seminar organised by the Singapore Talent, Artistes and Resources Association in May this year. The seminar was attended by 180 event companies and freelancers. Seminar participants were briefed on the security threat situation, and advised on how they could deal with an attack and recover quickly in the aftermath. MHA is also working with MOM and key associations in the entertainment industry to prepare industry practitioners to respond to emergency situations.

3. The Police also work closely with event organisers to ensure the security of large events. The Public Order Act was amended in April to require events that attract large crowds, or are of higher-risk, to put in place necessary security measures. The Police will also be issuing guidelines on event security best practices as a reference for all event organisers and security companies.

4. Evacuation plans are essential for any large-scale event. For large events designated under the Public Order Act, Police will require organisers to inform participants about the evacuation routes where practicable.

5. Beyond Government regulations and security agencies, members of the public can also play their part. This is why we started the SGSecure movement. Everyone should stay alert to security threats, pick up relevant knowledge and skills – such as our 'Run, Hide, Tell' advisory and know what to do if one is caught in an attack while attending a large-scale event.