Police MRT Unit
Encyclopedia
The Public Transport Security Command (TransCom) ) is a specialised transit police
unit of the Singapore Police Force
. It was first established as a unit of the Special Operations Command
under the name Police MRT Unit in 2005 in response to the need for greater security concerns in public transport operations in Singapore
as a result of global security issues. From 15 August 2009, the unit was upgraded into an independent unit and took its present name.
Wong Kan Seng
during the annual Police Workplan seminar in April 2005. The unit was to be known as the Police MRT Unit (PMU) and was part of the Special Operations Command. Officers began operational patrols on the Mass Rapid Transit
network from 15 August 2005 amid much media attention, particularly in the wake of the 7 July 2005 London bombings
in which Jean Charles de Menezes
was killed by Metropolitan Police Service
officers in a controversial shoot-to-kill
policy adopted there. This issue was also brought up in Parliament
on the same day, in which Wong clarified that no such policy is adopted here, although officers are trained to kill if considered necessary as is the standard procedure for the rest of the regular force.
Plans to enlarge the PMU into an independent unit within the SPF was announced in 2008. The transition was completed on 15 August 2009 when the unit was upgraded took its present name, reflecting its expanded role to police the entire public transportation network in Singapore. It has since shifted from its current base at Queensway Base
to the former Geylang Police Divisional Headquarters building at the end of 2009.
officers in its ranks.
Each TransCom officer is armed with a service revolver and T-baton, as is the case for regular officers. Heavier weaponry commonly used by officers in other SOC units are deemed inappropriate for use in the confined and often crowded spaces of the MRT network. Officers are dressed in the new tactical uniforms similar to those worn by Police Tactical Unit
officers, but initially wore blue-coloured beret
s. From 30 December 2009, they wore light-grey coloured berets, both to signify their distinction as an independent department, and to increase visibility operationally.
Initially deployed only on the MRT system, TransCom officers now have their area of operations extended to the bus interchanges and terminals, which were previously patrolled by Neighbourhood Police Centre
officers.
Transit police
Transit police are a specialized police agency or unit employed by a common carrier, which could be a transit district, railroad, bus line, other transport carrier, or the state...
unit of the Singapore Police Force
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
. It was first established as a unit of the Special Operations Command
Special Operations Command (Singapore)
The Special Operations Command is a frontline unit of the Singapore Police Force grouping together various specialist units into a single strategic reserve of the regular forces to be called upon in any contingency and serious case of public disorder.Today, the unit is composed of:The SOC also...
under the name Police MRT Unit in 2005 in response to the need for greater security concerns in public transport operations in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
as a result of global security issues. From 15 August 2009, the unit was upgraded into an independent unit and took its present name.
History
Plans to set up the unit was publicly announced by Minister for Home AffairsMinister for Home Affairs (Singapore)
The Minister for Home Affairs is an appointment in the Cabinet of Singapore. Formed in 1970, it replaced the post of Minister for the Interior and Defence with the split of the Ministry of the Interior and Defence into the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs....
Wong Kan Seng
Wong Kan Seng
Wong Kan Seng is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served as the country's Deputy Prime Minister from 2005 to 2011...
during the annual Police Workplan seminar in April 2005. The unit was to be known as the Police MRT Unit (PMU) and was part of the Special Operations Command. Officers began operational patrols on the Mass Rapid Transit
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
network from 15 August 2005 amid much media attention, particularly in the wake of the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
in which Jean Charles de Menezes
Jean Charles de Menezes
Jean Charles de Menezes was a Brazilian man shot in the head seven times at Stockwell tube station on the London Underground by the London Metropolitan police, after he was misidentified as one of the fugitives involved in the previous day's failed bombing attempts...
was killed by Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
officers in a controversial shoot-to-kill
Deadly force
Deadly force, as defined by the United States Armed Forces, is the force which a person uses, causing—or that a person knows, or should know, would create a substantial risk of causing—death or serious bodily harm...
policy adopted there. This issue was also brought up in Parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
on the same day, in which Wong clarified that no such policy is adopted here, although officers are trained to kill if considered necessary as is the standard procedure for the rest of the regular force.
Plans to enlarge the PMU into an independent unit within the SPF was announced in 2008. The transition was completed on 15 August 2009 when the unit was upgraded took its present name, reflecting its expanded role to police the entire public transportation network in Singapore. It has since shifted from its current base at Queensway Base
Queensway Base
Queensway Base is home of Special Operations Command , part of the Singapore Police Force . This place is gazetted as a protected place and is situated directly across the road from the Old Queenstown Police Station. Units such as Police Light Strike Force, Police KINS Training Camp, Police...
to the former Geylang Police Divisional Headquarters building at the end of 2009.
Manpower and equipment
TransCom draws its manpower from the regular as well as the conscript full-time national servicemen (NSF) resources, with the build of officers amongst the selection criteria. Taller and well-built officers are chosen to project a tougher presence. Officers are trained to conduct policing work in confined and crowded spaces, and are familiarised with the MRT system's operations. In 2007, the unit began to include Volunteer Special ConstabularyVolunteer Special Constabulary
The Volunteer Special Constabulary is an important component of the Singapore Police Force, contributing more than fifty years of volunteer service to the nation...
officers in its ranks.
Each TransCom officer is armed with a service revolver and T-baton, as is the case for regular officers. Heavier weaponry commonly used by officers in other SOC units are deemed inappropriate for use in the confined and often crowded spaces of the MRT network. Officers are dressed in the new tactical uniforms similar to those worn by Police Tactical Unit
Police Tactical Unit (Singapore)
The Police Tactical Unit is a paramilitary specialist unit of the Singapore Police Force and comes under the direct command of the Special Operations Command. Based in Queenstown, it is the main anti-rioting and disaster-management unit of the police force. They are also called upon to handle...
officers, but initially wore blue-coloured beret
Beret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
s. From 30 December 2009, they wore light-grey coloured berets, both to signify their distinction as an independent department, and to increase visibility operationally.
Operations
TransCom officers currently operate in pairs or larger groups in and around stations and trains on the MRT network. These patrols, which may include the inspection and searching of suspicious packages and persons, are deliberately kept random to retain an element of surprise for greater operational effectiveness.Initially deployed only on the MRT system, TransCom officers now have their area of operations extended to the bus interchanges and terminals, which were previously patrolled by Neighbourhood Police Centre
Neighbourhood Police Centre
A neighbourhood police centre is a mid-sized police station in Singapore, introduced in 1997 to replace the Singapore Police Force's Neighbourhood Police Post system...
officers.