Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Measures to Prevent Theft by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Officers or Other Staff Members at Singapore Airports

Question:

Mr Mohd Fahmi Bin Aliman: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what measures are in place to prevent theft by ICA officers or other staff members at Singapore airports; (b) whether the Ministry can provide an update on the frequency of such incidents and the trend over the past five years; and (c) how frequently are background checks and internal audits conducted on ICA officers to ensure their integrity and adherence to professional standards.

Answer:

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

1. Between 2019 and 2023, there were six cases of theft committed by employees or staff working at Singapore airports, one of which involved an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer.

2. All Home Team officers, including ICA officers, are subject to a stringent recruitment process and regular security vetting. Annually, they are required to declare their financial standing and subjected to credit bureau screening.

3. The Member asked about the measures in place to prevent theft by ICA officers. Supervisors monitor the officers, to ensure that they are acting in accordance with established procedures. In addition, ICA officers performing security checks are deployed in pairs, and any search of a traveller’s belongings is conducted in the presence of the traveller and Closed-Circuit Televisions. Officers also carry body-worn cameras which allows ICA to review and assess the conduct of the officers where necessary.

4. Our measures are generally effective in preventing misconduct by officers. But as members will appreciate, there might always be someone, in any organisation, who is tempted to behave badly, regardless of training, rules and discipline. These things do happen from time to time.

5. We put in place processes to reduce the risk of this occurring, and such cases are also likely to be detected if they do occur. Where such cases are detected, the officers involved will be subject to disciplinary action. If offences are disclosed, criminal investigations will also be initiated, and they will face higher punishments, compared with others who commit thefts (for example).