The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has pledged to plant 200 trees in support of the One Million Trees movement through National Parks Board (NParks)’s registered charity, Garden City Fund’s Plant-A-Tree programme to mark 200 years of policing in Singapore.
On 10 December 2020, Commissioner of Police Hoong Wee Teck, Chief Executive Officer of NParks Mr Kenneth Er, serving Police officers, volunteers and retirees planted five Merbatu trees at the Empress Place. The tree planting at the Empress Place traces the origins of the SPF back to the Singapore River and where the first purpose-built Police Office was situated.
The remaining 195 trees will be planted from the Empress Place onto streetscapes of roads in the vicinity to the Fort Canning Park, next to Farquhar Garden. As the first British Resident of colonial Singapore, Major-General William Farquhar set up the island’s first police force in May 1820. Besides his role in establishing the police department, Farquhar was also a keen naturalist who enjoyed collecting and documenting native flora, economic crops and ornamental plants. Under his supervision, Singapore’s first Botanic Garden at the Fort Canning was developed in 1822.
We are also pleased to announce that over $500,000 has been raised from past and present SPF officers for the Community Chest in this bicentennial year. This is on top of the donations through SHARE, a monthly giving programme of Community Chest which the SPF has supported since 1988.
Commissioner of Police Hoong Wee Teck said: “It is very fitting to commemorate the Police bicentennial with tree planting. Trees provide shade, are sturdy and enduring. Tree planting symbolises saluting the past by putting down roots while safeguarding the future with growth. We will continue serving Singapore and Singaporeans as we have done for the past 200 years.”
Chief Executive Officer, NParks, Mr Kenneth Er said: “The planting from Empress Place to Fort Canning Park reflects the close historic link between the first Police Office and first Botanic Garden. We congratulate the SPF on its bicentennial and are heartened that the SPF is part of the One Million Trees movement, sharing our vision to make Singapore our City in Nature.”
Members of the public can visit www.police.gov.sg/spf200 for more information on SPF200.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
10 December 2020 @ 4:00 PM