The Singapore Police Force (SPF) officially launched the Community Watch Scheme (CWS) on 11 December 2021. The Guest of Honour, Mr Desmond Tan, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, graced the launch which took place at SPF’s Headquarters. The launch was also livestreamed on SPF Facebook.
The CWS will be the umbrella ’entry level’ community volunteer scheme for SPF.
We invite members of the public who would like to be kept updated on information pertaining to safety and security, and play a simple but useful role in helping to keep their loved ones and the community safe (e.g. sharing crime advisories with their family and friends, and providing SPF with crime information they come across), to join the scheme.
In addition to inducting new members, we will be integrating into the CWS, various existing watch groups such as the Neighbourhood Watch Zone (NWZ), Vehicles on Watch, and Riders on Watch, and move from the current geography-bounded approach (e.g. NWZ of only a particular precinct) to an interest-based approach (see next paragraph). In this way, we will build a larger community, where every member can be involved in the safety and security of their area of interest, regardless where they are.
The CWS will be organised around five broad categories that cover most of our daily activities, namely Home, Work/Learning, Transport, Lifestyle and Cyber, and six interest groups, for a start, under these categories.
Five Categories and Six Interest Groups
CWS members can sign up for one or more of the interest groups. Upon doing so, they will get regular updates, including crime-related advisories, as well as opportunities to participate in related activities, training and workshops. In turn, CWS members are encouraged to actively share crime information from SPF with their own networks, be vigilant, and share relevant crime information they come across with SPF. For example, an alert for a person of interest to SPF (e.g. a suspect in a crime) can be swiftly shared with CWS members. Through further dissemination by the CWS network, the information can reach out to more persons, thus improving the chances of locating the person.
Since June 2021, SPF, together with key partners, namely the National Crime Prevention Council, People’s Association, Ministry of Manpower, Workplace Safety & Health Council, Land Transport Authority, the Singapore Cycling Federation, Lazada, Carousell, Shopee, Facebook, Amazon and Qoo10, have collectively onboarded approximately 5000 CWS members. (Please refer to Annexes for CWS collaterals. More information on this new scheme is available on the SPF website at https://www.police.gov.sg/Join-SPF/Volunteer-Schemes/Community-Watch-Scheme.)
Director of Community Partnership Department, Assistant Commissioner of Police Shng Yunn Chinn said, “The Community Watch Scheme provides volunteering opportunities for different segments of the population. As a CWS member, you will be kept updated on safety and security information in your area of interest. Members can also look forward to CWS-related activities and training. These will enable you to be more actively involved in protecting yourself, your loved ones and the community. The CWS is a call to action. As evident from the tagline, “Our Actions Count”, every action from our CWS members contributes to the success of our collective mission to prevent, deter and detect crime, and keep our country as one of the safest in the world.”
CWS members who are interested to do even more to enhance Singapore’s safety and security, and are able to commit more time and effort, are encouraged to sign up for other SPF volunteer schemes that require a higher level of involvement and participation, as these schemes do not currently fall under the CWS, for example, as Crime Prevention Ambassadors, Citizens on Patrol, or the Volunteer Special Constabulary.
SPF looks forward to strengthening and expanding our partnership with members of our community to keep Singapore safe and secure.
Guest of Honour, Mr Desmond Tan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Tan Hung Hooi and Chairman National Crime Prevention Council, Mr Gerald Singham launching the new Community Watch Scheme
ANNEX A: Community Watch Scheme Launch via SPF Facebook Live
Host introducing the new scheme via the FB live event
ANNEX B: Community Watch Scheme (CWS) Logo
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
11 December 2021 @ 11:30 AM