Division 1 — Organisation and duties of Special Constabulary
Constitution of Special Constabulary
66.—(1)  As from 12th October 2004, the Special Constabulary constituted under the repealed Act shall continue and be deemed to be constituted under this Act.
(2)  The Special Constabulary shall consist of such number of —
(a)full-time national servicemen enlisted in the Special Constabulary;
(b)operationally ready national servicemen enlisted in the Special Constabulary; and
(c)volunteers and volunteer ex-NSmen enrolled under section 68 as members of the Special Constabulary,
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as the Minister may decide.
(3)  The Special Constabulary shall consist of such ranks as are from time to time organised by or under the authority of the Minister.
[Police Force 1985 Ed., s. 59]
Special Constabulary has police powers and duties
67.—(1)  Each of the special police officers specified in subsection (2) shall —
(a)have all the duties of police officers under this Act;
(b)have all the powers of investigation conferred on police officers in relation to the investigation of offences under any written law; and
(c)be entitled to such protection and privilege under section 25,
as if he were a police officer of corresponding rank.
(2)  A special police officer shall have the powers and duties and be entitled to the protection and privileges of police officers referred to in subsection (1) for the following duration:
(a)in the case of a full-time national serviceman enlisted in the Special Constabulary, from the time his liability to report for enlistment or national service arises until such time as he is lawfully discharged or released;
(b)in the case of an operationally ready national serviceman enlisted in the Special Constabulary, from the time he is ordered to report for enlistment or service (whether or not he has complied with such an order) and while in uniform or performing duty in the Special Constabulary under section 14 of the Enlistment Act (Cap. 93), and while called out for mobilised service under sections 16 and 17 of that Act; and
(c)in the case of a volunteer or a volunteer ex-NSman enrolled under section 68 as a member of the Special Constabulary, during the period he is ordered to report for duty (whether or not he has complied with such an order), or he volunteers for duty to assist the Police Force in the execution of its duties.
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(3)  Without prejudice to subsections (1) and (2), every special police officer when mobilised for active service under section 73 shall have the same powers and duties and the same protection and immunities as a police officer of corresponding rank.
[Police Force 1985 Ed., ss. 65(2) and 67]
Enrolment of volunteers, etc.
68.—(1)  Subject to subsection (2), the Commissioner may enrol in the Special Constabulary any volunteer offering his service and desiring to serve as a member of the Special Constabulary.
(2)  No volunteer who is not a citizen of Singapore shall be enrolled under subsection (1) without the approval of the Minister.
(2A)  Despite subsection (2), the Commissioner may enrol under this section, as a volunteer ex-NSman in the Special Constabulary, any former operationally ready national serviceman who had enlisted in the Special Constabulary where —
(a)the Commissioner wants that former operationally ready national serviceman to continue to serve as a member of the Special Constabulary; and
(b)the operationally ready national serviceman is offering his service.
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(3)  A special police officer who is a volunteer or a volunteer ex-NSman may be paid such emoluments as the Minister may from time to time authorise.
[Police Force 1985 Ed., ss. 60 and 66]
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Applicability of Enlistment Act to volunteer ex-NSmen
68A.—(1)  The provisions of sections 14, 15, 21, 22 and 30 of the Enlistment Act (Cap. 93) affecting any person who is liable for operationally ready national service shall apply (so far as relevant) to any special police officer who is a volunteer ex-NSman as if the volunteer ex-NSman were an individual liable for operationally ready national service, with such prescribed exceptions, modifications and adaptations as the differences between an operationally ready national serviceman and a volunteer ex-NSman require.
(2)  The provisions of any other existing law that relate to an individual liable for operationally ready national service shall have effect as if any reference therein to any such individual also includes a reference to any volunteer ex-NSman, with such prescribed exceptions, modifications and adaptations as the differences between this Part and that existing law require.
(3)  In this section, “existing law” means any written law having effect as part of the law of Singapore immediately before the date of commencement of section 23 of the Police Force (Amendment) Act 2015.
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Appointments, promotions and dismissals
69.—(1)  A special police officer not below the rank of assistant superintendent shall be appointed and promoted and may be reduced in rank or grade or dismissed or discharged by the Minister.
(2)  A special police officer of or below the rank of inspector shall be appointed and promoted and may be reduced in rank or grade or dismissed or discharged by the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner.
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(3)  No person who has been called up for national service in the Special Constabulary shall be dismissed or discharged under subsection (1) or (2) except with the prior approval of the proper authority appointed under the Enlistment Act (Cap. 93).
[Police Force 1985 Ed., s. 61]
Oath or affirmation
70.—(1)  Every person enrolled under section 68 shall take an oath or affirmation in such form as the Minister may prescribe before a police officer not below the rank of assistant superintendent.
(2)  Any person who fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
(3)  This section shall not apply to national servicemen or operationally ready national servicemen.
Warrant card
71.  A warrant card shall be issued to every special police officer and shall be evidence of his appointment under this Act.
[Police Force 1985 Ed., s. 62]
Discharge from Special Constabulary
72.—(1)  The Commissioner may discharge any special police officer of or below the rank of inspector if, in the opinion of the Commissioner, it is desirable in the public interest to do so.
(2)  A special police officer referred to in section 66(2)(a) or (b) shall be discharged from the Special Constabulary as follows:
(a)from continuous full-time service in the Special Constabulary when he has completed the period of full-time service prescribed by the Enlistment Act; and
(b)from operationally ready national service in the Special Constabulary when —
(i)the proper authority notifies him that he has been transferred from the Special Constabulary to another force specified by the proper authority;
(ii)the proper authority notifies him that he is released from the Special Constabulary; or
(iii)he ceases to be a person subject to the Enlistment Act (Cap. 93).
(3)  Any volunteer or volunteer ex-NSman shall be entitled, except when mobilised under section 73, to be discharged from the Special Constabulary —
(a)after giving to the Commissioner —
(i)in the case of a volunteer ex-NSman, at least 3 months’ notice in writing of his intention to resign from the Special Constabulary; or
(ii)in any other case, at least 14 days’ notice in writing of his intention to resign from the Special Constabulary; and
(b)upon delivering to the Commissioner in good order (fair wear and tear excepted only) all arms, ammunition, accoutrement, uniform or other article or property belonging to the Government issued to the volunteer or volunteer ex-NSman which may be in his possession.
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(3A)  The Commissioner may, without notice, discharge any special police officer who is a volunteer ex-NSman; but this does not prevent him from offering his service and being enrolled subsequently as a volunteer under section 68(1).
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(3B)  Every special police officer who by resignation, dismissal, discharge or otherwise leaves the Special Constabulary must, before leaving, deliver up in good order (fair wear and tear excepted only) all arms, ammunition, accoutrement, uniform or other article or property belonging to the Government issued to him which may be in his possession.
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(4)  Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect or prejudice any power of dismissal from the Special Constabulary conferred by or under this Act.
[Police Force 1985 Ed., s. 64]
Mobilisation
73.—(1)  With the permission of the Minister, the Commissioner may mobilise for active service the Special Constabulary or any part thereof to perform either general or special police duties.
(2)  Such active service shall continue until an order is made by the Commissioner with the approval of the Minister stating the date of demobilisation.
(3)  Every special police officer who is so mobilised shall be bound to assemble at such place and perform such service as the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner directs.
[Police Force 1985 Ed., s. 65]
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Penalty for refusal to serve when mobilised
74.—(1)  Any special police officer mobilised for active service who without reasonable excuse, the proof whereof shall lie on him, refuses or neglects to serve shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(2)  Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person where he believes or suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the person is committing or has committed a service offence under subsection (1).
[Police Force 1985 Ed., s. 68]