PART IV
OFFICERS
Appointment of Director, Deputy Director, Superintendents and other officers
20.—(1)  The Minister may appoint a Director of Prisons, a Deputy Director of Prisons and, either by name or as holding any office for the time being, one or more Superintendents of Prisons, and such and so many prison officers, male or female, as may be necessary.
[7/97]
(2)  The appointment of the Director, Deputy Director and of any Superintendent shall be notified in the Gazette.
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(3)  The Deputy Director may, subject to such direction as may be given by the Director, exercise and perform all or any of the powers, duties and functions of the Director under this Act.
[33/2004 wef 04/10/2004]
Prison Standing Orders
21.  The Director may issue orders, to be called Prison Standing Orders, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder.
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Inspection by Director
22.  The Director shall periodically visit and inspect, or cause to be visited and inspected, all prisons in Singapore.
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Director may exercise powers of Superintendent
23.  The Director may exercise and perform any of the powers conferred or duties imposed by law on a Superintendent.
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Duties of Superintendent
24.  Subject to the orders of the Director, a Superintendent shall —
(a)supervise and control all matters in connection with any prison the administration of which is vested in him; and
(b)be responsible to the Director for the conduct and treatment of the prison officers and prisoners under his control, and for the due observance by prison officers and prisoners of the provisions of this Act and of all other written law relating to prisons or prisoners.
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Medical officers for prisons
25.  The Director shall appoint one or more registered medical practitioners as may be necessary to be medical officers for the prisons.
[33/2004 wef 04/10/2004]
Duties of medical officer
26.  Subject to the control of the Director, the medical officer shall perform such duties as may be prescribed.
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Duties of prison officers
27.  Prison officers shall perform such duties as may be prescribed.
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Accoutrements
28.  Every prison officer shall be provided with such staves, arms, ammunition and other accoutrements as may be prescribed.
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Observance of laws, regulations and orders
29.  Every prison officer shall —
(a)strictly conform to all laws and regulations relating to prisons and prisoners; and
(b)obey all lawful orders of his superior officers, whether given verbally or in writing, or issued in the form of prison regulations or standing orders.
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Prison officers and medical officers deemed public servants
30.  All prison officers and medical officers appointed under this Act or any regulations made thereunder shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of the Penal Code (Cap. 224).
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Use of weapons
31.—(1)  Subject to this section, a prison officer may use any weapon —
(a)against any prisoner escaping or attempting to escape;
(b)against any person who does any act or attempts to do any act to facilitate the escape of any prisoner ; or
(c)against any person engaged in any attempt to damage or force or break open —
(i)the outside door or gate or enclosure wall of a prison or any other part of a prison; or
(ii)any part of any vehicle in which a prisoner is conveyed.
[8/2000]
(2)  A prison officer may use any weapon —
(a)on any prisoner engaged in any combined outbreak; and
(b)on any person engaged in any attempt to damage or force or break open —
(i)the outside door or gate or enclosure wall of a prison or any other part of a prison; or
(ii)any part of any vehicle in which a prisoner is conveyed,
and may continue to use the weapon so long as the combined outbreak or attempt is actually being prosecuted.
[8/2000]
(3)  Every prison officer may use weapons against any prisoner using violence on any prison officer or other person, if the prison officer has reasonable ground to believe that the prison officer or other person is in danger of life or limb, or that other grievous hurt is likely to be caused to him.
(4)  A prison officer shall not resort to the use of any weapon under subsection (1) unless he has reasonable ground to believe that he cannot otherwise prevent the escape of any prisoner .
[8/2000]
(5)  Before using any firearm against a prisoner or other person referred to in subsection (1), the prison officer shall give a warning to the prisoner or that other person, as the case may be, that he is about to fire on him.
[8/2000]
(6)  No prison officer shall, in the presence of his superior officer, use any firearm against a prisoner or other person in the circumstances described in subsection (1) or (2) except under the orders of his superior officer.
[8/2000]
(7)  The use of weapons under this section shall be, as far as possible, to disable and not to kill.
(8)  Every police officer who is for the time being serving in the capacity of an escort, or of a guard in or around any prison or lock-up, for the purpose of ensuring the safe custody of any prisoner or prisoners, shall be deemed to have all the powers and privileges granted to prison officers under this section.
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Prison officer to have powers of police officer
32.  Every prison officer while acting as such shall by virtue of his office have all the powers, authorities, protection and privileges of a police officer.
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