Division 1 — Duties of police officers
Oath of office
19.  Every police officer must, before entering on the duties of his or her office, take an oath of office and oath of allegiance prescribed by the Oaths and Declarations Act 2000 in such manner as may be prescribed in the Police Regulations.
Liability of police officers to serve
20.  All police officers are bound to serve in any part of Singapore or on board any vessel or aircraft in the service of the Government, or to proceed to and serve outside Singapore as provided in Part 5.
Police officers to obey lawful orders
21.—(1)  Every police officer must —
(a)obey all lawful orders, whether given orally or in writing; and
(b)obey and conform to the Police Regulations, the Police General Orders, any Force Orders and any Standing Orders made under this Act.
(2)  In particular, a police officer is required —
(a)to serve wherever he or she is lawfully ordered; and
(b)to perform such police duties as may be lawfully ordered.
(3)  All powers granted to and duties imposed by any written law on any police officer are to be exercised or performed in accordance with the Police Regulations, the Police General Orders, any Force Orders and any Standing Orders made under this Act.
Police officer to be armed
22.  Every police officer is provided with such arms, ammunition and other accoutrements as may be necessary for the effectual discharge of his or her duties.
Police officer to be deemed on duty
23.  Every police officer is, for the purposes of this Act, deemed to be always on duty when required to act as such and has to perform the duties and exercise the powers granted to him or her under this Act or any other written law at any time and every place where he or she may be doing duty.
Police officer not exempted from ordinary process of law
24.—(1)  Nothing in this Act is deemed to prevent the prosecution, conviction and punishment of any police officer according to the provisions of any other written law for the time being in force in Singapore.
(2)  No person who has been acquitted by a court of any offence is to be tried on the same charge under this Act.
(3)  A sentence upon a police officer is not affected by such person ceasing to be a police officer by discharge or otherwise.
(4)  No pay accrues to any police officer in respect of any period during which he or she is undergoing any sentence of imprisonment.
Non-liability for act done under authority of warrant
25.—(1)  Where the defence to any suit instituted against a police officer is that the act complained of was done in obedience to a warrant purporting to be issued by any competent authority, the court is, upon production of the warrant containing the signature of such authority and upon proof that the act complained of was done in obedience to such warrant, to enter judgment in favour of such police officer.
(2)  No proof of the signature of such authority is required unless the court has reason to doubt the genuineness of the signature.
(3)  Where it is proved that the signature on a warrant card is not genuine, judgment is nevertheless to be given in favour of such police officer if it is proved that, at the time when the act complained of was committed, the police officer believed on reasonable grounds that the signature was genuine.
(4)  Where this section provides to a police officer relief from liability, the section also extends to apply to a forensic specialist assisting that police officer in the course of his or her duty as a forensic specialist in accordance with section 65B.
[10/2015]
Road barriers
26.—(1)  Despite any other law in force in Singapore, any police officer may, if the police officer considers it necessary to do so for the maintenance and preservation of law and order or for the prevention or detection of crime —
(a)erect or place barriers in or across any public road or street or in any public place in such manner as the police officer may think fit; and
(b)take all reasonable steps to prevent any vehicle being driven or ridden past, or any person from crossing, any such barrier.
(2)  Where a barrier is erected or placed in or across any public road or street or in any public place pursuant to subsection (1), a police officer may order the driver or rider of any vehicle travelling in the direction of the barrier —
(a)to proceed towards the barrier and stop the vehicle at or near, or before reaching the barrier; and
(b)to remain in the vehicle and keep the vehicle stationary until permitted by a police officer to proceed.
(3)  An order under subsection (2) to the driver or rider of any vehicle may be given —
(a)by spoken word in a manner which is likely to be audible to the driver or rider;
(b)by any recognised hand signal in a manner which is likely to be visible to the driver or rider; or
(c)by any other prescribed signal which is likely to be audible or visible to the driver or rider.
(4)  If any notice or sign warning of the presence of a barrier erected or placed in or across any public road or street or in any public place pursuant to subsection (1), is displayed to traffic approaching the barrier, the notice or sign constitutes and is to be treated, for the purposes of this section, as an order under subsection (2) addressed by a police officer to any driver or rider of any vehicle who is travelling in the direction of the barrier and who ought reasonably to have seen the notice or sign to do the following:
(a)to proceed towards the barrier and stop the vehicle at or near, or before reaching the barrier;
(b)to remain in the vehicle and keep the vehicle stationary until permitted by a police officer to proceed.
(5)  Any driver or rider of any vehicle commits an offence if —
(a)he or she is ordered under subsection (2) by a police officer —
(i)to proceed towards the barrier and stop the vehicle at or near, or before reaching the barrier; and
(ii)to remain in the vehicle and keep the vehicle stationary until permitted by a police officer to proceed; and
(b)he or she fails —
(i)to proceed towards the barrier and stop the vehicle at or near, or before reaching the barrier; or
(ii)to remain in the vehicle and keep the vehicle stationary until permitted by a police officer to proceed.
(6)  Where a barrier is erected or placed in or across any public road or street or in any public place pursuant to subsection (1), a police officer may direct a pedestrian travelling in the direction of the barrier —
(a)to proceed towards the barrier and stop at or near, or before reaching the barrier; and
(b)to remain there until permitted by a police officer to continue.
(7)  A person who is a pedestrian travelling on any public road or street or in any public place commits an offence if the person fails to comply with any direction of a police officer to the person under subsection (6).
(8)  A person who is guilty of an offence —
(a)under subsection (5) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to both; or
(b)under subsection (7) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both.
(9)  In proceedings against an accused for an offence under subsection (5) or (7), where it is alleged that the accused failed to comply with an order under subsection (2) or a direction under subsection (6) (as the case may be), it is a defence for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that it was not reasonably practicable to do more than what was in fact done to comply with the order or direction, as the case may be.
(10)  Any police officer may, without warrant, arrest —
(a)any driver or rider of any vehicle who fails to comply with an order under subsection (2) by a police officer;
(b)any pedestrian who fails to comply with a direction under subsection (6) by a police officer; or
(c)any driver or rider of any vehicle mentioned in paragraph (a), or any pedestrian mentioned in paragraph (b), who in response to a request by a police officer giving the order or direction —
(i)refuses to give his or her name and a residential address in Singapore; or
(ii)gives a name which the police officer has reason to believe is false or misleading or gives an address other than the full and correct residential address in Singapore of the driver, rider or pedestrian, as the case may be.
(11)  No police officer shall be liable for any loss or damage to any vehicle, or for any injury to the driver or rider or any other occupant of the vehicle, as a result of the driver or rider of the vehicle failing to obey any police officer acting under this section.
[Act 21 of 2021 wef 01/01/2022]
Application of sections 26B, 26C and 26D in attempted suicide cases
26A.—(1)  Sections 26B, 26C and 26D apply only where a police officer reasonably suspects that a person is about to or has attempted to commit suicide and where the powers under those sections are reasonably necessary for any of the following purposes:
(a)preventing personal injury, hurt or death to any person;
(b)facilitating an inquiry within the meaning of section 2 of the Coroners Act 2010 if death is caused either to the person who attempted suicide or any other person;
(c)preserving evidence for the purpose of any subsequent investigations into or proceedings in relation to any suspected arrestable offence which may be disclosed.
[15/2019]
(2)  For the purposes of this section and sections 26B, 26C and 26D —
(a)a reference to a police officer includes a reference to —
(i)a special police officer; and
(ii)a forensic specialist acting in the course of his or her duty as such in accordance with the written authorisation of the Commissioner under section 65B and the lawful directions of the police officer he or she assists; and
(b)“arrestable offence”, “court”, “financial institution”, “place”, “police station” and “property” have the meanings given by section 2(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010.
[15/2019]
Search by police officer for or of person in suicide or attempted suicide cases
26B.—(1)  A police officer may, without a search warrant —
(a)search or cause a search to be made in any place for a person if the police officer has reason to believe that the search is necessary for any purpose mentioned in section 26A(1); or
(b)search a person and place in safe custody all articles other than necessary wearing apparel found upon that person if the police officer has reason to believe that the search is necessary for any purpose mentioned in section 26A(1).
[15/2019]
(2)  The police officer in subsection (1) must, if reasonably practicable, conduct the search in person.
[15/2019]
(3)  The provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 relating to searches pursuant to search warrants, with the necessary modifications, apply to a search made under this section.
[15/2019]
(4)  Where a police officer executing any search under this section demands entry or access to a place liable to search under this section, the occupier or any person in charge of the place must allow the police officer free entry or access and provide all reasonable facilities for a search in it.
[15/2019]
(5)  If free entry or access to that place cannot be obtained under subsection (4), it is lawful in any case for the police officer or other person executing the search to break open any outer or inner door or window of any place or to use any other reasonable means in order to gain entry or access into the place.
[15/2019]
Search by police officer for document or thing in suicide or attempted suicide cases
26C.—(1)  A police officer may, without a search warrant, search or cause a search to be made for a document or other thing in any place if —
(a)the police officer considers the document or thing to be necessary for any purpose mentioned in section 26A(1);
(b)the police officer has reason to believe that the document or thing, which the police officer considers to be necessary for any purpose mentioned in section 26A(1), is likely to be removed; or
(c)it is not known who possesses the document or thing which the police officer considers to be necessary for any purpose mentioned in section 26A(1).
[15/2019]
(2)  The police officer in subsection (1) must, if reasonably practicable, conduct the search in person.
[15/2019]
(3)  The provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 relating to searches pursuant to search warrants, with the necessary modifications, apply to a search made under this section.
[15/2019]
(4)  Where a police officer executing any search under this section demands entry or access to a place liable to search under this section, the occupier or any person in charge of the place must allow the police officer free entry or access and provide all reasonable facilities for a search in it.
[15/2019]
(5)  If free entry or access to that place cannot be obtained under subsection (4), it is lawful in any case for the police officer or other person executing the search to break open any outer or inner door or window of any place or to use any other reasonable means in order to gain entry or access into the place.
[15/2019]
Powers to seize property in suicide or attempted suicide cases
26D.—(1)  A police officer may seize, or prohibit the disposal of or dealing in, any property.
[15/2019]
(2)  If the property liable to be seized under subsection (1) is held or suspected to be held in an account or a safe deposit box in a financial institution, a police officer of or above the rank of inspector may, by written order —
(a)direct the financial institution to deliver the property to any police officer; or
(b)direct the financial institution not to allow any dealings in respect of the property in such account or safe deposit box for such period as may be specified in the order.
[15/2019]
(3)  A police officer to whom any property has been delivered because of an order under subsection (2)(a) must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, report at a police station his or her receipt of the property.
[15/2019]
(4)  A police officer may exercise the powers conferred under this section despite any provision in any other law relating to the seizure of, or the prohibition of any disposal of or dealing in, any property.
[15/2019]
(5)  Where any property held in an account in a financial institution is subject to an order made under subsection (2)(b) —
(a)any interest or other earnings on such account, or any other payments, may be credited into such account after the date on which the written order was made; and
(b)any such interest, other earnings or payments is deemed to be subject to that same written order.
[15/2019]
(6)  Any financial institution which contravenes an order made under subsection (2)(a) or (b) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000.
[15/2019]
(7)  A court may —
(a)subsequent to an order of a police officer made under subsection (2); and
(b)on the application of any person who is prevented from dealing with property,
order the release of such property or any part of such property.
[15/2019]
(8)  The court may only order a release of property under subsection (7) if the court is satisfied that —
(a)such release is necessary for the payment of basic expenses, including any payment for foodstuff, rent, the discharge of a mortgage, medicine, medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums and public utility charges;
(b)such release is necessary exclusively for —
(i)the payment of reasonable professional fees and the reimbursement of any expenses incurred in connection with the provision of legal services; or
(ii)the payment of fees or service charges imposed for the routine holding or maintenance of the property which the person is prevented from dealing in;
(c)such release is necessary for the payment of any extraordinary expenses;
(d)the property is the subject of any judicial, administrative or arbitral lien or judgment, in which case the property may be used to satisfy such lien or judgment, provided that the lien or judgment arose or was entered before the order was made under subsection (2)(b); or
(e)such release is necessary, where the person is a company incorporated in Singapore, for any day-to-day operations of the company.
[15/2019]
(9)  Part 19 (Disposal of property) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 applies to the disposal of any property seized under this section with the necessary modifications as if it were property seized in the exercise of any power under that Code.
[15/2019]
Forced entry in non-suicide cases
26E.—(1)  If a police officer —
(a)reasonably suspects that a person in any place requires assistance because of any injury or the person’s poor state of health;
(b)is unable to gain entry or access into the place; and
(c)is of the view that entry or access into the place is necessary to protect the life, health or safety of the person,
it is lawful for the police officer to break open any outer or inner door or window of the place or to use any other reasonable means in order to gain entry or access into the place.
(2)  However, no power conferred under this section may be exercised in relation to a person whom the police officer reasonably suspects is about to attempt or has attempted to commit suicide.
[Act 21 of 2021 wef 01/01/2022]
Employment of police officers for private purposes
27.—(1)  Any person may apply to the Commissioner, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, to employ police officers for —
(a)the purpose of guarding the applicant or any other person or any property; or
(b)any other reason acceptable to the Commissioner.
(2)  The Commissioner may grant an application made under subsection (1) subject to any conditions that the Commissioner thinks fit, including but not limited to the following:
(a)the applicant must pay for the services of the police officers such amount or at such rate as may be prescribed, and if no such amount or rate is so prescribed, such amount or rate as the Commissioner thinks fit;
(b)the number of police officers to be placed at the disposal of the applicant for such service, and the conditions of service.
(3)  The Government shall not be liable for any loss or damage to property, whether owned by the applicant or by any other person, consequent on the employment of police officers as provided in this section.