Singapore passes new laws to protect private security officers from abuse In the wake of increasing violence against security officers, writes Nicholas Dynon, Singapore’s parliament has passed new laws that set out new offences and penalties for those who harass, abuse or harm officers carrying out their duties.
The amendments to Singapore’s Private Security Industry Act (PSIA), which were passed by Parliament on 5 October 2021 (and took effect on 01 May), provide a new set of teeth to legislation that regulates – and now protects – the private security industry. In particular, the changes see the introduction of enhanced penalties for offences by persons who (i) intentionally cause harassment, alarm or distress to; (ii) assault or use criminal force on; and (iii) voluntarily cause hurt to security officers.
The new penalties range from up to $5,000 fine and/or imprisonment up to 12 months for ‘intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress’ to up to $10,000 fine and/or imprisonment up to five years for ‘voluntarily causing hurt’. Under the new legislation, harming a security officer in the course of their duties now carries the risk of harsher penalties than harming a member of the public: A climate for change In his second reading of the Private Security Industry (Amendment) Bill speech, Minister for Home Affairs Desmond Tan, Minister of State,
Nicholas Dynon is chief editor of NZSM, and a widely published commentator on New Zealand’s defence, national security and private security sectors.
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NZSM
June/July 2022
