In Singapore, the Home and Law Affairs Minister, K. Shanmugam, revealed on Wednesday that the city-state is contemplating the recruitment of auxiliary police officers (APOs) from Asian countries such as India, China, the Philippines, and Myanmar. Shanmugam informed Parliament that the Ministry is exploring the option to broaden the recruitment base for the Auxiliary Police Force due to a significant decline in the number of APOs hired from Taiwan since the practice began in 2017.
The move is prompted by a surge in demand for APOs, attributed to heightened security threats and the development of new infrastructure, including Changi Airport Terminal 4. Shanmugam stated that allowing the recruitment of foreign APOs is essential to meet the increasing demand for security services.
According to a written parliamentary response to MP Sylvia Lim, Shanmugam acknowledged the challenges faced by the Auxiliary Police Force in maintaining an adequate pool of APOs, given factors such as a shrinking local workforce, physical fitness requirements, and the diverse job opportunities available to Singaporeans.
As of November last year, Singaporeans constituted approximately 68% of the total APO population, while the remaining 32% were Malaysians and Taiwanese. Shanmugam highlighted the difficulty in retaining Taiwanese APOs, with their numbers decreasing by over 60% since 2017 to about 70 at present. Reasons cited for this decline include the demanding nature of public-facing security work, improved job prospects in Taiwan, a desire to settle down with a family, and homesickness.
APOs undergo training in various areas, including handling firearms and counter-terrorism. They are deployed for tasks such as protecting key installations, securing non-governmental premises like commercial banks, and have police powers to search and arrest offenders while on duty.
Addressing concerns about allowing non-Singaporeans to carry firearms, Shanmugam assured Parliament that security screening, training, and supervision effectively mitigate such risks. He emphasized that instances of firearm misuse by APOs, whether Singaporean or non-Singaporean, are extremely rare.
(With Agency Inputs)
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