Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Reviewing SPF’s and SCDF’s Training of Full-Time National Servicemen in Policies, Procedures and Doctrines

Question:

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry is considering reviewing the training provided to full-time National Servicemen (NSF) in the SPF and SCDF to confirm that all these NSFs understand their rights and responsibilities with respect to recognising and challenging workplace practice that may be inconsistent with existing policies, procedures, or doctrines.

Answer:

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

1. All Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) undergo basic training conducted by the Police Training Command or Civil Defence Academy, before they are deployed for operational duties. During basic training, NSFs are taught their Home Team Department’s core values and code of conduct, which includes the need to report practices that breach existing policies, procedures or doctrines.

2. NSFs and officers can confidentially report wrongful workplace practices through reporting channels which have been well established in SPF and SCDF. They can raise issues related to breaches of policies, malpractice or wrongdoing in the workplace to their direct supervisor, Unit Commander or Director, and even the senior leadership of their Home Team Department and the Ministry headquarters. This can be done in writing or in person. All reports are looked into objectively and expeditiously.

3. The NSFs and officers are informed of the reporting channels when they first join their Home Team Department, during their basic training. They are reminded during subsequent in-service training programmes, and some dialogues and forums with management, as well as through periodic internal communications.