Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Singapore Police Force’s Crisis Negotiation Unit, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Singapore Police Force’s Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) currently includes social workers trained in suicide interventions; and (b) if not, whether the Ministry will consider including social workers in the CNU when responding to suicide attempts.

Answer:

1.    The Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) includes Police officers and psychologists who are trained in negotiation tactics, including how to handle cases involving barricaded subjects or those who attempt to commit suicide. There are no social workers in the CNU.

2.    When attending to a case involving attempted suicide, the immediate objective of responders is to ensure the safety of the person in distress and others around him or her. After the Police have ensured the safety of the various parties, other relevant personnel may then be brought in to attend to the suicidal person and to provide the necessary support. This may include social workers.