Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on \r\rPolice’s Supervisory Measures and Oversight of Foreign Workers Management Teams

Question:

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs in light of the recent conviction of an auxiliary police officer who was a team leader of one of the Foreign Workers Management (FWM) patrol teams for misappropriating seized sex enhancement drugs (a) what are the supervisory measures and oversight taken by the Police over FWM teams which typically comprise contracted auxiliary police or security officers; and (b) what are the roles and powers provided to FWM teams in the execution of their duties.

Answer:

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

1. As part of efforts to manage law and order concerns in areas where there is high foreign worker concentration and high propensity of public order incidents, the Police deploy Foreign Workers Management (FWM) teams, comprising Auxiliary Police Officers and Security Officers, to reinforce Police presence at these areas. As part of their duties, the FWM teams take enforcement action against offences such as urinating, littering, spitting in public and sale of illegal drugs.

2. The FWM teams are required to follow strict protocols when carrying out their enforcement duties, to ensure that all evidence seized are properly accounted for. For example, the officers are required to take photos of the evidence, in the presence of their team members, before seizing the exhibits and putting up an incident report. The exhibits would then be handed over to the relevant law enforcement agencies, who will tally the exhibits seized against the incident report. In addition, the FWM teams are not allowed to collect any summons payment in cash, to minimise the risk of the payments being misappropriated.

3. The Police exercise supervisory oversight over the FWM teams by conducting pre- and post-shift briefings and checks, as well as surprise checks on the teams during their shift. In addition, all FWM teams will be equipped with body worn cameras by March 2025, which will provide another avenue of supervisory oversight. Should the FWM teams be found to be not in compliance with the prescribed protocols, the Police would refer the officers for internal disciplinary action. If an offence has been committed, the Police would prosecute them, no different from other offenders.