Question:
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the number of police patrols deployed at Little India on weekends; (b) whether the number of patrols at Little India has declined over the past three years; and (c) whether there are any plans by the Police to increase the number of patrols to ensure safety and security of the neighbourhood, especially on weekends and public holidays.
Answer:
1. Police operational deployments are confidential and are driven by an assessment of the law and order situation. The Police deploy a significant number of Auxiliary Police Officers and Security Officers to patrol Little India during peak periods such as weekend nights, eves of Public Holidays and Public Holidays. The APOs and SOs are augmented by Police officers from Central Police Division and the Special Operations Command. The level of deployment has not changed over the past three years.
2. The Police have also deployed cameras within Little India to supplement the ground patrols. We have steadily increased the number of cameras, from 34 in 2016 to about 200 today.
3. The Police’s assessment is that the current deployments have kept the crime situation in Little India in check. The Police will work with stakeholders to monitor the situation and will adjust their operational strategies accordingly.
