SOC on Orchard Road...a valid response?
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The news article to kick-start the discussion. What do you guys think of this initiative?
Nov 2, 2004
Elite cops go on anti-terror street patrols
They are policing areas ranging from the CBD to the HDB heartland
By Ben Nadarajan
HEAVILY-ARMED elite police officers began patrolling residential areas, commercial buildings and entertainment outlets yesterday, in a highly-visible move to thwart potential terror attacks. The new initiative will see 32 Special Operations Command (SOC) officers patrolling areas ranging from heartland neighbourhoods to busy shopping and commercial districts, day and night.
The extension of armed patrols by such officers to residential neighbourhoods is unprecedented, but police said this is not a response to an increased threat of attack here. Police director of operations, Assistant Commissioner Aubeck Kam, who announced the move yesterday, said: 'It does not signify any specific increase in the level of threat that Singapore faces.' Rather, he said, it is part of ongoing efforts to prevent a terrorist attack in Singapore.
Police did not want to specify any particular areas the new patrols would focus on, but it is understood that Orchard Road, Mohamed Sultan Road and the Central Business District are likely to get the lion's share of the increased attention. SOC officers already patrol Changi Airport, Boat Quay and Newton Circus. Patrols at the latter two areas, however, are mainly conducted at night, when they are packed.
The additional patrols will be conducted by teams of six to eight officers. They will be deployed to random areas to prevent terrorists from detecting a pattern.
The latest move is part of a gradual ratcheting up of security measures. Recently, taxi-drivers and even shopkeepers were roped in to be the police's eyes and ears on the ground. Building managers have also been asked to do their part, by taking responsibility for their buildings' security. The public has been roped in too, with signs at MRT stations and elsewhere calling for them to report suspicious objects they spot lying around.
AC Kam said the latest initiative has several aims. First, it is meant to deter terrorists with a greater police presence. It is also meant to reassure the public that Singapore is safe because more officers are pounding the pavement, while reminding them of the need to be on their guard and stay vigilant.
The elite SOC officers will be wearing the service's trademark dark-blue uniform and beret. They will also don bullet-proof vests and carry submachine guns. They will complement existing patrols by officers from various police stations.
AC Kam said the SOC patrol officers are better trained and equipped than ordinary front-line officers to handle high-level operations like counter-terrorism. He added: 'It is not just about the numbers. It's how well these officers are trained. Their focus is very much on anti-terrorism, rather than everyday crime.'
Yesterday afternoon, the first patrol hit the streets near the Hilton Hotel and immediately drew puzzled stares from the crowd. The initial reaction of most passers-by was that something had gone wrong, and that the police were called in because of a threat.
But when told of the new initiative, many welcomed it. Technician Shariff Raman, 42, said: 'Having police officers with machine guns walking along Orchard Road is rather extreme, but if they can stop a terrorist attack, then it is worth going to such extremes.'
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Finally a topic has been posted!!!!...as for the response nothing much lah... it is to prevent terrorist lor.. that is about it
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Huh? This is the third or fourth thread on the same topic liao..
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Yes...but of all places, I noticed it in the SAF forum, when...this is obviously concerning the SPF!
Anyway, I suppose the SPF must be thinking its quite a waste of resources having their SOC men locked up in Queensway polishing their boots and practising for the next NDP display or SPF open house exhibition. -
Cool man..guess this will soon become another tourist attraction. Did u see the tourist gals taking pics in the news segment?
Anthony -
Yeah...its was so funny. But the worse has got to be when they purposely ask the troops to walk around the reporter as they speak to the camera. That was so cockster siah.Originally posted by anthony77:Cool man..guess this will soon become another tourist attraction. Did u see the tourist gals taking pics in the news segment?
Anthony -
so bo liao.. i think the garman over react liao
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Actually i'm rather surprised people did not raise a more curious eye-brow on this matter. I'm rather intrigue why SPF suddenly came up this action without any prior notice.
Could this action be related to:
1. The unrests in Thailand, China and Indonesia?
2. The particular holidays of this season?
3. Tip-offs of possible attack from unnamed sources?
Also, one interviewee from the news raised a very good point: How effective are they in detering terrorists?
So should we be more worried that their presence is required, or more at ease?? -
Or Singaporeans should just get used to the sight of heavily armed police personal patrolling our streets, as what seems to be the message behind today's news report on CNA?
Come to think of it, could it be part of the pschological preparedness for POST terrorism Singapore rather then before? -
People are generally more afraid of the police...so if there are alot of police means there is something bad is going to happen.. but i think i am sure why you people (those in the SPF) knows about this right..too bad i believe it is OSA...
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I have been to some European countries before, and have seen their armed guards patrolling public places. Maybe this is just another plan to westernize Singapore, to make the tourists feel more at home...
I wonder how those guys at SOC feel about their latest "Orchard Road duty". Hehe... -
I wonder how they would feel if some tourist ask them to pose and take a picture with them in the middle of Orchard Road!!!
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from my point of view.. it is about time those people start working...
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Its quite normal actually. I notice tourists often ask for normal cops or even the militaty policemen on motorbikes at the Istana COG to be their photographic backdrop.Originally posted by SpecOps87:I wonder how they would feel if some tourist ask them to pose and take a picture with them in the middle of Orchard Road!!! -
Hahaha......seems like you share my view, if you refer to my post above.Originally posted by houndy:from my point of view.. it is about time those people start working...
I bet if they were walking around out streets without their weapon, most singaporeans are going to think they are SCDF personal. Just goes to show how invisible they are from the general public! -
Heard on the news today that these troopers are going into the heartlands from today or something.
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They are SCDF of the police force....only when you need them then you call them...Originally posted by huaiwei:Hahaha......seems like you share my view, if you refer to my post above.
I bet if they were walking around out streets without their weapon, most singaporeans are going to think they are SCDF personal. Just goes to show how invisible they are from the general public! -
put forces there, ppl scared.....no put forces there, ppl start complain here not safe......
beri hard please ppl eh.... -
That more or less sums up everything loh.Originally posted by duotiga83:put forces there, ppl scared.....no put forces there, ppl start complain here not safe...... beri hard please ppl eh.... 
Saw on tv they now patrolling Serangoon Gardens. Kaoz. That is MY area! What the fish! -
I don't know about you but we do live in interesting times.For those of us in the loop, be it we wear green or blue, we know why we have to do the things we do.It's not easy..
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i think it's a waste of resources.. furthermore terrorists don't have "I'm here to wreck your country" or "I'm a terrorist" written on their face. so, can you say that it's effective??
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i see the topic i tot what
i tot standard obstacle course in orchard road -
Originally posted by shoutcast:i see the topic i tot what
i tot standard obstacle course in orchard road Always check the forum heading before the thread title! -
If you read the above, the thing is that there isnt really much of a "wastage" in the first place. These folks, if not doing this, are probably stuck in their camps pretending to save hostages from another fake block of flats.Originally posted by droopyeyes:i think it's a waste of resources.. furthermore terrorists don't have "I'm here to wreck your country" or "I'm a terrorist" written on their face. so, can you say that it's effective??
For the kind of salary they are drawing, perhaps they are better off sweating a little outside their camps then within it.