Learn more about the unsung heroes who keep Orchard Road safe 24/7 – the Orchard NPC officers. Veteran officer DSP Amarjeet Singh shares the challenges of policing Singapore's premier shopping district, and how officers go the extra mile to serve the community.
By: Domnic Dass
Orchard Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) was officially opened on 2 February 2002 as part of the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) community policing strategy. The NPCs represented an enhancement of the Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) system, which had been launched in June 1983.
Orchard NPC started with four sectors under its jurisdiction and 27 officers per team. To enhance crime prevention in commercial and entertainment areas, officers worked to build partnerships with business owners and other stakeholders.
Community Liaison & Preparedness (CLP) officers, now known as Community Policing Unit (CPU) officers, played a key role in maintaining peace and addressing issues on the ground. To increase police presence and deter crime, officers also conducted patrols and enforcement operations at public entertainment outlets at night.
We speak to one of the pioneers of Orchard NPC who’s still proudly in service there: Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Amarjeet Singh, currently an Officer-in-Command (OC) in the Crime Strike Force (CSF). DSP Singh has seen it all, from serving four missions in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) to handling the vibrant Orchard NPC sector of Clarke Quay.
When did you join the SPF?
I first joined the Singapore Armed Forces in 1990 and served my National Service for 2.5 years, but I applied for the SPF midway through and joined the Force in 1993. After my six-month Junior Officer Basic Course at the old Police Academy, I was posted to Tanglin Police Division Headquarters in January 1994. I was among the pioneer batch of officers at Orchard NPC in 2001, before its official opening in 2002.
What were your early responsibilities when you joined Tanglin Police Division?
I was part of the Watch Team under Team Bravo. My primary responsibilities were patrolling and covering station, counter and Operations Room duties.
How did you get selected for the UNPKF?
My Watch Team supervisor informed me about the UNPKF recruitment exercise. I applied together with almost 100 other officers, of which only 60 remained after a stringent fitness assessment. We then endured a “Hell Week” at the Gurkha Camp and a joint-training session with Special Operations Command (SOC) officers and UN representatives at the SOC base – focusing on firearms, tactics and forest operations.
What were your UNPKF deployments like?
Despite the challenges of adjusting to the rural terrain and learning the local culture and language, I completed four year-long UN missions in Timor Leste and East Timor, training new police officers and conducting community policing. My final mission was in 2009, when I supported the local police force.
In 2010, I returned to the SPF as an Investigation Officer with Tanglin Police Division. After completing my Senior Officer Basic Course in 2012, I was posted back to Orchard NPC in 2013 as a Team Leader for the Ground Response Force. I served under Team Bravo from 2013 to 2019 before taking on my current post as an OC of the CSF.
What are the unique aspects of Orchard NPC that people might not know about?
Our operational terrain is unique as it is made up of shopping areas, commercial buildings and entertainment venues. On the ground, officers can encounter challenges related to extended operating hours for nightspots, increased crowd traffic and uncooperative patrons.
Besides Orchard Road, we also handle areas like Peace Centre and Clarke Quay. Officers attending to cases at Clarke Quay may find themselves attending to other parallel or newer incidents that arise.
In short, the operational terrain, tempo and wide range of incidents that we attend to at Orchard NPC are a little different from those of NPCs in largely residential areas.
What makes Orchard NPC special to you?
During my time at Orchard NPC, I was fortunate to have supportive Commanding Officers and supervisors who shared their expertise and listened to my concerns. I learnt to also convey that as a leader: to provide guidance and help my officers improve and serve the public more effectively. We always look out for one another here.
Want to learn more about the other NPCs from "Our NPCs" series? Click here to find out more: Queenstown, Hougang, Changi, Nanyang, and Woodlands West.
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