Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong visited Punggol’s integrated Home Team facilities to view cutting-edge capabilities and meet our Home Team National Service officers!
By: Domnic Dass
Prime Minister (PM) and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong visited the co-located Punggol Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) and Punggol Fire Station on 4 April 2025 for an engagement session with Home Team National Service (NS) officers. This marked his first official visit to the frontline units of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) since assuming office as PM.
Accompanied by Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law Mr K Shanmugam, SPF Acting Commissioner How Kwang Hwee and SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap, PM Wong observed operational demonstrations that highlighted the Home Team’s technological capabilities and readiness.
On Target: Neutralising Drone Threats
Officers from the Protective Security Command (ProCom), an NS-centric unit comprising mostly Full-time Police NS (PNSF) officers, demonstrated the SPF’s counter-drone capabilities. Using systems such as the Radio Frequency-based Jammer Gun (developed jointly by the SPF and the Home Team Science and Technology Agency), officers can disrupt the control signals of unauthorised drones to safely neutralise and retrieve these devices for further investigations.
On the Go: The SPF’s Next-Generation Fast Response Car (NGFRC)
PM Wong was then briefed on the NGFRC and its advanced features. The NGFRC represents a leap in policing technology, with key features such as the Integrated Vehicular Dashboard and the Automated Number Plate Recognition System.
The Integrated Vehicular Dashboard serves as a command centre, giving officers control over all the technological functions in the car through a single interface. The Automated Number Plate Recognition System screens and detects vehicles of interest, allowing officers to focus on other critical tasks. Both features are supported by live video streaming that keeps the Police Operations Command Centre updated in real-time.
50 Years of Police National Service (PNS)
Another highlight of the day was PM Wong’s engagement session with 30 NS officers from the SPF and SCDF. The mood was light as the officers took turns to share more about their respective roles.
2025 marks an important milestone for the SPF as it commemorates 50 years of PNS with full-time PNS being introduced to boost the SPF’s manpower resources. Since the pioneering intake of 200 PNSF officers on 24 July 1975, PNS officers have played increasingly important roles over the decades.
What began as a supplementary auxiliary force has developed into an essential component of Singapore’s security infrastructure. Other than frontline duties in the NPCs, PNS officers also serve in specialised vocations in units such as the Police Coast Guard, Public Transport Security Command, Special Operations Command and Criminal Investigation Department.
The training of PNSF officers has also evolved over the decades. What started as a three-month Police Officers’ Basic Course covering essential laws, operations and defence tactics has since become much more multifaceted. In the late-1990s, the Course grew to include scenario-based training, enhanced weapons handling and first aid. Modern training now incorporates Virtual Reality simulations and e-learning platforms. Since 2021, PNSF officers can also obtain industry-recognised certifications to give them a head-start in their civilian careers.
The Home Team currently includes over 43,000 operationally ready NS officers and more than 7,000 full-time NS officers serving across the SPF and SCDF. Their enhanced roles reflect the Home Team’s commitment to maintaining operational readiness in a changing security environment.
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