From grandstand and paddock to concert stage, in the thick of the action and far from the track lights, our officers were on hand to ensure a safe and secure F1 weekend for all.
By: Mike Tan
Caught the Singapore Grand Prix over the weekend? If you were among the over 260,000 attendees at the F1 Night Race in Singapore this year, you’d have enjoyed the excitement and high spirits on the ground. And one of the reasons for the event’s success is the effort and contributions of the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
As in years past, helping to safeguard the safety and security of the F1 were our officers in blue. Behind the scenes, the SPF worked with event organisers, auxiliary police partners and other public agencies to mount a comprehensive, multi-day operation to ensure the safety and security of drivers, teams and spectators.
The planning began months in advance, with the SPF developing a comprehensive security plan for the event. Drawing on their experience in risk management and threat assessment, officers consider potential issues and vulnerabilities, and then implemented a range of measures to address these.
Officers from various specialist SPF units such as the Special Operations Command (SOC) were also on standby to respond swiftly in case of an emergency. This capability is essential to ensuring that unforeseen incidents are dealt with effectively.
But it wasn’t only trackside that the SPF focused its efforts; away from the city centre, officers also kept a watchful eye on proceedings. By the water or on foot, Police units were deployed as well.
The comprehensive planning and capabilities deployed on the ground not only helped to safeguard the event, they also offered assurance and enhanced the overall F1 experience for attendees.
With tens of thousands of excited attendees converging on the city centre, officers were also on hand to help with crowd management. Tapping on their experience in supporting major public events in the city centre such as the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown and National Day Parade, officers monitored crowd levels, offered timely information and averted gridlock. This ensured that participants, spectators and emergency services could move about the event space without incident.
And if anyone needed a hand, officers were glad to assist! Police officers, auxiliary officers and event staff on the ground helped facilitate open lines of communication and made sure that attendees got the support they needed.
From strategic planning and maintaining order to responding to emergencies and maintaining crowd management, the SPF played a vital role in safeguarding the safety and security of the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. As we recall with excitement who took the chequered flag last night, do spare a thought for the officers who gave their best behind the scenes as well.
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