1. The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced on 14 May 2021 that it will be tightening COVID-19 measures in Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), from Sunday 16 May 2021 through Sunday 13 June 2021, to decisively arrest the increasing number of cases in the community.
2. In line with this, the Home Team will tighten measures to protect the safety and well-being of our officers and those under our care and supervision, and to provide the public with continued access to services in a safe manner. These measures will take effect from Sunday 16 May 2021 through Sunday 13 June 2021.
Updated measures across the Home Team
3. We will be taking the following measures across the Home Team:
Limited counter services
4. Members of the public are advised to access Home Team services online. There will be limited counter services at ICA Building and Police establishments during this period.
5. The Services Centres at ICA Building will be operating at reduced capacity. Physical counter services will only be available for selected services that cannot be completed online, and services for which appointments have been made. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to use ICA's e-Services available at MyICA. Please visit ICA’s website at https://www.ica.gov.sg/covid-19/icab for more information on services that are available online, as well as the limited services available via physical counters.
6. Counter services in Police’s establishments such as Neighbourhood Police Centres and Neighbourhood Police Posts, will continue to be available to members of the public who require urgent assistance. For emergencies, please continue to call "999". For non-urgent enquiries and services, members of the public are strongly encouraged to access the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) e-services at https://eservices.police.gov.sg/homepage. Those with any information on criminal activities, may submit the information via i-Witness at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
Critical training and enlistment to continue
7. Training critical to operations, such as Basic Courses and Ground Response Forces Training, will continue at the Home Team Academy and Civil Defence Academy. Regulars and full-time National Servicemen (NSF) will also continue with training which is important to maintain the operational readiness of the Home Team. Strict health precautions and SMMs will be in place. These include safe distancing, wearing of masks (except for strenuous exercises) and disinfection of equipment after every use, to reduce the risk of transmission.
8. All other training will either be moved online, or deferred till after 13 June 2021.
9. In-camp Training (ICT) for Operationally Ready National Service Men (NSmen) will continue as our NSmen continue to provide and support essential services. All other Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT), Remedial Training and Fitness Improvement Training activities for NSmen will be suspended. Other National Service activities will be moved online or postponed.
10. Enlistment will continue for recruits at the Civil Defence Academy and Home Team Academy. As an added measure, they will undergo a COVID-19 PCR test upon enlistment, to reduce the risk of spread of the virus among trainees.
Suspension of community engagement activities
11. Community engagement and training activities such as the Community Emergency Preparedness Programme, SGSecure-related events, and visits to Home Team heritage galleries will be suspended. Community engagement by Volunteer Special Constabulary (Community) officers will also be suspended.
Enhanced measures in prisons
12. The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) will cease face-to-face and tele-visits and replace them with phone calls with effect from 17 May 2021 until further notice. Families who have already booked their visits will have their visits converted to phone calls. SPS has informed the inmates’ families about the conversion of visits to phone calls and will contact them to arrange for the phone calls. In addition to phone calls, inmates are still able to communicate with their families through e-letters. Details and updates on any changes will be provided at https://www.sps.gov.sg.
13. SPS has also suspended all rehabilitation programmes conducted by vendors and volunteers in all prison facilities during this period. SPS is in contact with its partners to provide alternative modes of counselling for inmates.
MHA will continually review measures amidst evolving COVID-19 situation
14. The Ministry of Home Affairs remains committed to the safety and security of Singapore. We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and will continually review measures to keep our Home Team officers and the public safe.
