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Special Tactics and Rescue (Singapore)
Encyclopedia
The Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) 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".
(PTF), who served even on their days off for a monthly allowance of $50.
The PTT, although drawing expertise from the PTF, were still limited in their operational readiness, skills and capability. Resulting from the need to provide the Singapore Police Force with a dedicated armed response team, with expertise assistance of Hong Kong Police Force
's Special Duties Unit
, the PTT was re-formed into STAR under the Special Operations Command
in 1 November 1993.
The unit is known for resolving cases assigned to them without being engaged in gunfights in Singapore.
, the role of STAR was to engage in neutralising armed and dangerous criminals, to resolve urban sieges that may involve hostages or firearms, protection of VIPs and escorting of particularly dangerous prisoners.
and the Republic of Singapore Navy
in dealing with sea-borne threats.
The STAR unit has been involved in the arrest of an AWOL and armed National Serviceman named Dave Teo Ming
at the Orchard Cineleisure Mall without firing a shot, as it has been since the unit had conducted operations back in January 1996.
To get the best people for the job, the unit holds an intensive and rigorous selection process. During this process, candidates have to undergo a full-day screening to evaluate both their physical and mental capabilities. After which, they are put through psychological assessments and an interview is conducted by an interview panel. Successful applicants will be notified to undergo a final medical review before starting their intensive two-week training and orientation.
During the two weeks, the candidates will be put through another series of tests to evaluate their capabilities in given situations. Those who make it through the final selection will then embark on a six-month training course which includes doctrinal and practical sessions in related disciplines.
The STAR team is known to have sent officers extensively for overseas training attachments and study visits with units such as Hong Kong's Special Duties Unit
, Israeli Border Guard's Yamam
, Germany's GSG 9
, and the Australian SASR. The officer exchange program with the Special Duties Unit has been ongoing since 1998.
, G36C and SAR-21
Assault Rifles, the MP5 submachine gun, various shotguns such as the Remington 870
, and Sphinx 3000
pistols (these replaced the previously used Glock 17 and 19) as standard sidearms. They also employ a variegated arsenal of sniper rifles.
Additionally, STAR deploys equipment for breaching and entering buildings, as well as a dedicated STAR Assault Vehicle, based on the Land Rover SUVs used by the British SAS, for entering normally inaccessible areas.
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
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...
. Its official task is to provide 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...
with a tactical armed-response capability, and its motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is "Vigilance, Valour, Victory".
Origins & History
STAR started off in the late 1970s as a part-time outfit called the Police Tactical Team (PTT), and was mainly used to contain civil disorder. During the early days, the Police Tactical Team was a motley crew of volunteer officers from the Police Task ForcePolice 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...
(PTF), who served even on their days off for a monthly allowance of $50.
The PTT, although drawing expertise from the PTF, were still limited in their operational readiness, skills and capability. Resulting from the need to provide the Singapore Police Force with a dedicated armed response team, with expertise assistance of Hong Kong Police Force
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
's Special Duties Unit
Special Duties Unit
The Special Duties Unit is an elite paramilitary tactical unit of the Hong Kong Police Force. Established in July 1974, it is a sub-division of the Police Tactical Unit...
, the PTT was re-formed into STAR under 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...
in 1 November 1993.
The unit is known for resolving cases assigned to them without being engaged in gunfights in Singapore.
Pre–September 11
Prior to the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, the role of STAR was to engage in neutralising armed and dangerous criminals, to resolve urban sieges that may involve hostages or firearms, protection of VIPs and escorting of particularly dangerous prisoners.
Post–September 11
After the events of September 11, the unit was also to undertake anti-terrorism duties. In 2005, STAR acquired a new maritime assault capability to augment the Police Coast GuardPolice Coast Guard
The 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...
and the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
in dealing with sea-borne threats.
The STAR unit has been involved in the arrest of an AWOL and armed National Serviceman named Dave Teo Ming
Dave Teo
Corporal Dave Teo Ming was a Full Time National Serviceman from the 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment who gained national headlines when, on 2 September 2007, he went absent without official leave with his SAR-21 assault rifle from Mandai Hill Camp in Singapore.He was arrested by the police in...
at the Orchard Cineleisure Mall without firing a shot, as it has been since the unit had conducted operations back in January 1996.
Selection and Training
Application to join the STAR unit is open only to serving police officers ( SPF , CNB ), senior officers and TRACOM trainees.To get the best people for the job, the unit holds an intensive and rigorous selection process. During this process, candidates have to undergo a full-day screening to evaluate both their physical and mental capabilities. After which, they are put through psychological assessments and an interview is conducted by an interview panel. Successful applicants will be notified to undergo a final medical review before starting their intensive two-week training and orientation.
During the two weeks, the candidates will be put through another series of tests to evaluate their capabilities in given situations. Those who make it through the final selection will then embark on a six-month training course which includes doctrinal and practical sessions in related disciplines.
The STAR team is known to have sent officers extensively for overseas training attachments and study visits with units such as Hong Kong's Special Duties Unit
Special Duties Unit
The Special Duties Unit is an elite paramilitary tactical unit of the Hong Kong Police Force. Established in July 1974, it is a sub-division of the Police Tactical Unit...
, Israeli Border Guard's Yamam
Yamam
The Yamam ) is an elite Border police, not civilian Police counter-terrorism unit in Israel. The Yamam is capable of both hostage-rescue operations and offensive take-over raids against targets in civilian areas...
, Germany's GSG 9
GSG 9
The GSG 9 der Bundespolizei , is the elite counter-terrorism and special operations unit of the German Federal Police.-History and name:...
, and the Australian SASR. The officer exchange program with the Special Duties Unit has been ongoing since 1998.
Weapons and Equipment
STAR officers use weapons that include the M4A1 rifleM4 Carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
, G36C and SAR-21
SAR-21
The SAR 21 is a bullpup assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore. First revealed and subsequently adopted by the Singapore Armed Forces in 1999, it was designed & developed over a four year period and was intended to replace the locally license-built M16S1 by the Singaporean Ministry...
Assault Rifles, the MP5 submachine gun, various shotguns such as the Remington 870
Remington 870
The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.-Development:The Remington 870 was...
, and 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...
pistols (these replaced the previously used Glock 17 and 19) as standard sidearms. They also employ a variegated arsenal of sniper rifles.
Additionally, STAR deploys equipment for breaching and entering buildings, as well as a dedicated STAR Assault Vehicle, based on the Land Rover SUVs used by the British SAS, for entering normally inaccessible areas.
In popular culture
Fictional Television programs- The Dragons Five (飞龙五将), 1995
- Frontline
- C.L.I.F.C.L.I.F.C.L.I.F. is a 20-episode police blockbuster drama produced by MediaCorp Singapore in 2011, in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force. It is aired from 31 May - 27 Jun 2011 on free-to-air Channel 8, Singapore. The drama stars Tay Ping Hui, Qi Yu Wu, Elvin Ng, Joanne Peh, Chris Tong, Tracy...
2011
See also
- Special Task Squadron (STS)
- Singapore Prisons Emergency Action ResponseSingapore Prisons Emergency Action ResponseThe Singapore Prisons Emergency Action Response is a department within the Singapore Prison Service. SPEAR Force is a highly trained elite force that is deployed for various high risk and special operations...
(SPEAR) - Singapore Special Operations ForceSingapore Special Operations ForceThe Special Operations Force is a special forces unit in the Commando Formation of the Singapore Army and a component of the joint Special Operations Task Force. It specialises in operations such as direct action, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and special reconnaissance, and is one of the few...
(SOF) - Naval Diving UnitNaval Diving Unit (Singapore)The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare.-Recruitment:...
(NDU) - List of special forces units
External links
- Official website
- Keshvani, N. (May, 1997). Police Life Monthly - ASP Steven Koh - the classic "tough guy" cop. Singapore: ©Singapore Police Force