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Special Operations Command (Singapore)
Encyclopedia
The Special Operations Command (SOC) is a frontline unit of the Singapore Police Force
(SPF) 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 provides secretarial support to the United Nations Peace Keeping Force (UNPKF) by pooling together volunteers selected from any unit in the SPF.
The SOC traces its history back to 1952, when an anti-riot squad of 60 police officers was formed in the wake of the Maria Hertogh riots
, which broke out in 1950 and demonstrated the incapability of existing measures in containing serious cases of public disorder. The Police Task Force, predecessor of what is now the Police Tactical Unit was hence created.
On 10 September 1992, the SOC was formally created to combine the Police Task Force, the Police Tactical Team, and the Police Dog Unit under one command. In 1993, the Special Tactics and Rescue
was formed to replace the Police Tactical Team. Greater involvement of Police National Servicemen was seen with the inclusion of the National Servicemen Key Installation Unit in 1994, and the formation of the Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force
in 1998.
In response to changing demands in urban security issues, the Police MRT Unit was formed in 2005 to provide armed security within and around stations and trains on the Mass Rapid Transit
network. They typically conduct patrols by standing in a group at the ends of trains and using eye-power. Pooled from regular and NSF manpower resources, they are the first SOC unit to be formed which involves regular front-line policing from inception. From 15 August 2009, the unit was renamed as the Public Transport Security Command and became an independent unit separate from the SOC.
which will replace the existing ARWEN 37
. Their handguns will be replaced by the new HK USP Compact
pistol
, while the Sphinx 3000
pistol
will also be introduced.
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...
(SPF) 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:
| Unit | Abbreviation | Commanding Officer | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crisis Negotiation Unit | CNU | DSP Syed Sagoff | 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... |
| Police K-9 Unit | K-9 | Seah Thian Pau | 2 Mowbray Road |
| Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force The Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force is part of Special Operations Command , a division of Singapore Police Force, located at Queensway in Singapore.-History and Nature:... |
PNSF LSF | 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... |
|
| Police National Service Key Installation Protection Unit | KINS | Ulu Pandan Base | |
| 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... |
PTU | 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... |
|
| Special Tactics and Rescue Special Tactics and Rescue (Singapore) The Special Tactics and Rescue is the elite Special Operations SWAT of the Singapore Police Force. Its official task is to provide the Singapore Police Force with a tactical armed-response capability, and its motto is "Vigilance, Valour, Victory".... |
STAR | Law Kok Leong Arthur | 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... |
The SOC also provides secretarial support to the United Nations Peace Keeping Force (UNPKF) by pooling together volunteers selected from any unit in the SPF.
History
Maria Hertogh riots
The Maria Hertogh riots or Nadrah riots, began on 11 December 1950 in Singapore after a court decided that a child who had been raised by Muslims should be returned to her biological Catholic parents. A protest by outraged Muslims escalated into a riot when images were published showing 13-year-old...
, which broke out in 1950 and demonstrated the incapability of existing measures in containing serious cases of public disorder. The Police Task Force, predecessor of what is now the Police Tactical Unit was hence created.
On 10 September 1992, the SOC was formally created to combine the Police Task Force, the Police Tactical Team, and the Police Dog Unit under one command. In 1993, the Special Tactics and Rescue
Special Tactics and Rescue (Singapore)
The Special Tactics and Rescue is the elite Special Operations SWAT of the Singapore Police Force. Its official task is to provide the Singapore Police Force with a tactical armed-response capability, and its motto is "Vigilance, Valour, Victory"....
was formed to replace the Police Tactical Team. Greater involvement of Police National Servicemen was seen with the inclusion of the National Servicemen Key Installation Unit in 1994, and the formation of the Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force
Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force
The Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force is part of Special Operations Command , a division of Singapore Police Force, located at Queensway in Singapore.-History and Nature:...
in 1998.
In response to changing demands in urban security issues, the Police MRT Unit was formed in 2005 to provide armed security within and around stations and trains 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. They typically conduct patrols by standing in a group at the ends of trains and using eye-power. Pooled from regular and NSF manpower resources, they are the first SOC unit to be formed which involves regular front-line policing from inception. From 15 August 2009, the unit was renamed as the Public Transport Security Command and became an independent unit separate from the SOC.
Incidents
- In the early morning of 25 April 1978, Constable Lee Kim LaiLee Kim LaiLee Kim Lai was a police officer who was murdered on 25 April 1978 for his service revolver by three men. A serving Police National Serviceman, he was performing police sentry duty at the Police Reserve Unit 1 base of the Singapore Police Force at Mount Vernon when he was abducted from...
was abducted while he was performing sentry duties at the Police Reserve Unit (PRU) 1Police 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...
base at Mount VernonMount Vernon, SingaporeMount Vernon is a small hill in central Singapore west of Potong Pasir and north of MacPherson Estate. Officially named in 1956, it is circumscribed by Bartley Road, Upper Aljunied Road, Upper Serangoon Road, and Upper Paya Lebar Road.-Features:...
, and found stabbed to death in a taxi later. - On 17 May 1978, SGT Toh Say Tin from the PRU 1Police 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...
was on special duties when he slipped and fell overboard while attempting to board a boat from marine policePolice Coast GuardThe Police Coast Guard is the Marine Police division of the Singapore Police Force which also takes on roles of the coast guard typically handled by the military or as separate organisations in other countries...
speedboat PA 6 off Marine ParadeMarine ParadeMarine Parade is a town and an urban planning area in Singapore directly to the east of the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.-Location:...
. A non-swimmer, he was not wearing a life vest, and was swept away by the currents. His body was found on 19 May 1978 about eight kilometres from the incident.
Weapons, equipment and vehicles
SOC troopers are typically armed with the MP5K and the MP5N Sub Machine Guns. New weapons introduced from 2004 include the HK 69, a grenade launcherGrenade launcher
A grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
which will replace the existing ARWEN 37
ARWEN 37
The ARWEN 37 is a non-lethal launcher which fires 37 mm non-lethal rounds designed for riot control. It has a 5-round rotary drum magazine. "ARWEN" is an acronym for "Anti Riot Weapon ENfield"....
. Their handguns will be replaced by the new HK USP Compact
Heckler & Koch USP
The USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.-History:...
pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
, while the Sphinx 3000
Sphinx Systems
Sphinx Systems Limited is a small Swiss-based manufacturer of high quality pistols used mainly by special forces, elite police units and sports shooters. The company has been in business since 1876...
pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
will also be introduced.