1. The amendments to the Private Security Industry Act (“PSIA”), which were passed in Parliament on 5 October 2021, will take effect from 1 May 2022.
2. The PSIA is the main legislative instrument that provides for the regulation of the private security industry. The amendments will enhance protection for security officers and streamline the regulation.
Enhancing Protection for Security Officers
3. Security officers play an important role in ensuring the safety and security of premises and the occupants of the premises where they are deployed. Due to the public-facing nature of their work, they face a significant risk of confrontation with people when carrying out their duties.
4. The Ministry of Home Affairs takes a serious view of harassment and abuse of security officers. While there are existing laws which provide protection for all victims of harassment and abuse, such as the Protection from Harassment Act and the Penal Code, there are no enhanced protection provisions for security officers who are carrying out their duties. The scope of the PSIA was therefore broadened to provide targeted enhanced protection for security officers performing security functions stipulated under the PSIA, to send a clear, deterrent signal against abuse and harassment of security officers.
5. With the amendments to the PSIA coming into force from 1 May, there will be enhanced penalties for offences by persons who a) intentionally cause harassment, alarm or distress to; b) assault or use criminal force on; and c) voluntarily cause hurt to; security officers.
6. These offences are summarised as follows:
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Offences
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Current penalties in existing laws to protect members of public
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New penalties in PSIA to protect security officers
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Intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress
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Protection from Harassment Act: Up to $5,000 fine and/or imprisonment of up to six months
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Up to $5,000 fine and/or imprisonment up to 12 months
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Assaulting or using criminal force
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Penal Code: Up to $1,500 fine and/or imprisonment of up to three months
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Up to $7,500 fine and/or imprisonment up to two years
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Voluntarily causing hurt
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Penal Code: Up to $5,000 fine and/or imprisonment of up to three years
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Up to $10,000 fine and/or imprisonment up to five years
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Streamlining Regulation of Security Consultancies
7. The amendments will remove persons who only provide security consultancy services from regulation under the PSIA. This will encourage a shift towards the industry-led accreditation of security consultants under the Security Consultants Accreditation Programme, launched by the Association of Certified Security Agencies and the Security Association Singapore.
8. For more information on the PSIA amendments, please refer to Annex A.
Annex A
Press Release on First Reading of the Private Security Industry (Amendment) Bill
Second Reading Speech on the Private Security Industry (Amendment) Bill
Wrap-Up Speech on the Private Security Industry (Amendment) Bill
