2024 Review (Part 2)

NEW CLEARANCE CONCEPT, SERVICES CENTRE NEXT-GENERATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is transforming border clearance and service delivery through bold technological innovations. These advancements enhance operational efficiency and elevate the customer experience while upholding stringent border security. Driving this transformation are three key strategic pillars, namely the New Clearance Concept (NCC), Services Centre Next-Generation (SCNG) and Workforce Development. Together, they position ICA at the forefront of innovation, shaping the future of seamless and secure border operations.

Passport-Less Immigration Clearance

Eligible travellers can now enjoy the convenience of passport-less clearance at the checkpoints. 

a. QR Code Clearance at Land Checkpoints 

ICA has progressively implemented QR code clearance for passengers, conveyances and cargo across the land checkpoints.

• From March for car travellers.

• From April for bus drivers.

• From August for motorcyclists and cargo drivers.

• From December for bus travellers at Tuas and Woodlands Checkpoints (including travellers on wheelchairs and family groups using Special Assistance Lanes). 

b. Token-less Clearance at the Air and Sea Checkpoints

ICA has progressively implemented token-less immigration clearance using only biometrics for Singapore residents and departing foreign travellers at the air and sea checkpoints. This reduces the average clearance time from 25 seconds to 10 seconds per traveller.

• From September at Changi Airport.

• From December at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore. 

World’s Best Airport Immigration Service Award 2024

In April, ICA received the award from Skytrax, an internationally recognised air transport rating organisation. The award was given based on factors such as automated and priority lanes, as well as efficiency and courtesy of immigration staff.

ICA has been working with Changi Airport Group to improve user experience at the immigration halls with initiatives such as: 

• Automated Clearance Initiative that allows eligible visitors to use automated lanes even for first-time visitors; and

• Special Assistance Lanes that provide travellers using wheelchairs and family groups with the convenience of automated immigration clearance.

Digital Transformation of Services

ICA has achieved significant progress in this area, with close to 95% of customers submitting applications online. New backend processing systems have been put in place to streamline end-to-end processes, alongside other initiatives such as the digitisation of passes and alternate site collection for passports and NRICs. The transformation has significantly reduced the need for physical visits to ICA Building or have lesser/shorter counter transactions, proving greater convenience as customers can transact with ICA anytime and anywhere.  

Developing and Making Better Use of ICA’s Workforce

ICA officers take on higher job roles under NCC and SCNG. For example, with the NCC, officers move away from static counter tasks such as scanning and stamping of passports to managing higher-risk travellers and exceptional cases. They are being upskilled to be operationally ready for these roles.

A new command structure - the Small Team Concept - has been put in place to better support NCC’s Concept of Operations. Officers are deployed in small mobile teams to profile and interview suspicious travellers, as well as carry out investigative functions and forensic checks on documents. Launched in April, the concept improves command, control and response agility. It also creates more supervisory opportunities, with leadership training for officers stepping into Group Leader roles.

STRENGTHENING CAPABILITIES FOR SINGAPORE’S SECURITY

Honouring Former PM Lee Hsien Loong at the SPF Dining-In Ceremony

Singapore Police Force (SPF) honoured former Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong at a Dining-In Ceremony on 17 April at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess. The event recognised his decades of unwavering support for SPF. Commissioner of Police Hoong Wee Teck presented former PM Lee with the Temasek Sword, which is SPF’s highest accolade, in appreciation of his contributions.

Read more information on the ceremony here.

SOC Deploys UAVs to Enhance Operational Capabilities

The Special Operations Command (SOC) deploys Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to boost its operational effectiveness. Leveraging the technology for better sense-making during incidents, the UAVs can manoeuvre through tight spaces and provide live video feeds for informed decision-making on the ground. The UAVs have become an integral part of SOC’s operational strategy, ensuring that it can continue to take on emerging threats and keep Singapore safe and secure.

Read more information on SOC’s UAVs here.

SPF Workplan Seminar 2024 - A Future-Ready SPF: Cyber and Beyond

The event was held on 24 May at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, unveiling initiatives to strengthen SPF’s capabilities to fight cybercrime and scams, as well as leverage Artificial Intelligence to enable new frontiers in policing. These included the:

• Launch of the Cyber Guardians on Watch and Cyber Crime Prevention Ambassadors initiatives;

• Scam Analytics and Tactical Intervention System to identify and disrupt scam-related websites;

• Vehicle forensics to extract and analyse datasets stored in vehicles and electronic systems to support SPF’s investigations; and

• Self-Lodging Police Report Chatbot prototype to improve the reporting process.

Read more information on the seminar here.

SecCom’s New Base Enhances Training and Readiness

Police Security Command (SecCom) relocated to a new base at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, equipped with upgraded training facilities. These include an indoor firing range with advanced simulation capabilities, a flexible training space with customisable layouts, and a mock hotel room for realistic scenario-based training. The new base enhances the readiness and efficiency of SecCom Personal Security Officers, ensuring that they remain prepared to respond to evolving security threats effectively.

Read more information on SecCom’s new base here.

Security Operations for Pope Francis’ Visit to Singapore

SPF played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and security of Pope Francis’ historic visit to Singapore from 11 to 13 September. Officers from Traffic Police (TP) and SecCom formed part of the motorcade that escorted the Pope as he travelled between event venues.

The highlight of the Pope’s visit was the Holy Mass for 50,000 people at the Singapore Sports Hub. SecCom officers worked through the night to conduct a security sweep of the venue, ensuring there were no threat items. SPF also conducted checks on people, bags and vehicles entering the venue as well as increased the number and frequency of patrols involving officers from TP, Police Land Divisions, SOC and Public Transport Security Command.

The success of the security operations was made possible by the dedication of officers involved and close collaboration with other government agencies and stakeholders. 

EFFECTING LAW ENHANCEMENTS, MAINTAINING PRIDE AS ONE HOME TEAM AND ENSURING SINGAPORE’S SAFETY

1. Stillbirths and Births (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (1^st Reading in November 2023, 2^nd Reading in January)

It made amendments to the Registration of Birth and Deaths Act 2021 in relation to stillbirths. New provisions enabled the parents of a stillborn child to apply to the Registrar-General of Births and Deaths for a name to be entered in the stillbirth register, within one year after the stillbirth, if they wish to do so. Amendments were made to the definition of ‘stillborn child’ in the Act, by raising the threshold from 22 weeks of pregnancy to 24 weeks.

2. Criminal Procedure (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (1^st Reading in January, 2^nd Reading in February)
   

Jointly introduced by Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), it advanced our criminal justice system. It contained significant proposals to protect the public by strengthening our levers to tackle crime, including serious sexual crime, as well as to enhance transparency, fairness and coherence in our criminal court processes.  

3. Law Enforcement and Other Matters Bill (1^st Reading in March, 2^nd Reading in April)
   

The Bill strengthened our levers against scams, enhanced the efficacy of Home Team (HT) operations as well as facilitated and protected Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG)’s operations.

The Bill introduced offences targeting people who misuse local SIM cards to facilitate scams. It also clarified SPF’s powers of apprehension under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act (MHCTA). When SPF responds to incidents involving persons who pose a danger to themselves or to others, and such danger is reasonably suspected to be attributable to a mental disorder, SPF can apprehend the person under Section 7 of MHCTA and bring the person to a medical practitioner.

Lastly, YRSG would no longer need to enact changes in subsidiary legislation for administrative staff matters, and YRSG would have the exclusive right to the use of YRSG’s symbols, and symbols of initiatives related to YRSG’s mission. 

4. Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill (1^st Reading in March, 2^nd Reading in April)

It extended the operation of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act for another five years with effect from 21 October. Under the Act, Minister of Home Affairs may detain or place under Police supervision, persons associated with activities of a criminal nature as set out in the Act, when satisfied that this is necessary in the interests of public safety, peace and good order, and when prosecution is not viable. Given the significant powers, the Act is written to require periodic renewal for Parliament to assure itself of its continued relevance.

5. Anti-Money Laundering and Other Matters Bill (1^st Reading in July, 2^nd Reading in August)

The Bill aligned the Anti-Money Laundering (ML) / Countering the Financing of Terrorism framework for casino operators with Financial Action Task Force standards. It enhanced the ability of government agencies to detect and enforce against ML offences. Lastly, it clarified and improved processes to deal with seized or restrained properties linked to suspected criminal activities.

6. Casino Control (Amendment) Bill (1^st Reading in August, 2^nd Reading in September)

It amended the Casino Control Act to enhance the effectiveness of our casino regulatory regime. Secondly, it tightened the regulation of the casinos and licensees. Lastly, it strengthened protection for vulnerable groups.

Other amendments included regularising the collection of entry levies, streamlining the regulatory process for contracts signed by casino operators and aligning penalties of existing offences with similar offences in other laws.

7. Protection from Scams Bill (1^st Reading in November, 2^nd Reading in 2025) 

The Bill will empower SPF to issue Restriction Orders (ROs) to banks to restrict an individual’s banking transactions, if there is reasonable belief that the individual will transfer money to scammers. This enables SPF to better protect targets of ongoing scams who refuse to believe that they are being scammed. The RO will be issued as a last resort, after other options to convince the individual have been exhausted. 

8. Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill (1^st Reading in November, 2^nd Reading in 2025)

The Bill proposes amendments to the Road Traffic Act (RTA) to re-calibrate the balance between deterrence and proportionality for RTA offences. The Bill will also enhance enforcement powers for authorities to quickly take action against errant motorists.

Inaugural HT Day

Held on 24 February, this event celebrated the commitment and contributions of all HT officers who have dedicated their lives to keeping Singapore safe and secure. 

It signifies our collective commitment to continue improving the way Home Team Departments coordinate and integrate operations to serve the community better. It is also part of our efforts to build a stronger HT culture.

HT Day commemorates the HT concept, which was launched on 24 February 1997, by then-Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng. The concept centres around the idea that while each MHA agency performs a specific role, all the agencies share the common mission of keeping Singapore safe and secure. 

The HT concept underpins the way we train, plan and operate today, to ensure an integrated and coordinated response to our mission. In his speech, Guest-of-Honour Minister K Shanmugam shared that as One HT, we have been able to achieve much more and we will continue to find ways to work better together.

Read Minister’s speech

SGSecure’s Music Video and Instagram Account 

On 27 July, MHA launched SGSecure’s first-ever music video “Foiled Once More” and the SGSecure Instagram account at the SGSecure Roadshow at Suntec City.

The music video, created in partnership with local singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono, features an antagonist who plotted to disrupt Singaporeans’ way of life and divide society. While he succeeded in carrying out an attack in the heartlands, the community rallied together in the aftermath to support one another in rebuilding efforts, demonstrating Singaporeans’ unity and tenacity. The music video reminds us that we should not take our safety for granted and to always stay vigilant and resilient.

The SGSecure Instagram account, @SGSecureOfficial, features important and relatable content to raise awareness and educate the community on key SGSecure advisories and how everyone can play an active role in safeguarding our society from terrorism and extremism. Follow the account today to show your support for the SGSecure movement and find out how we can keep each other safe from terrorism!