Private Investigation and Security Agencies Regulations

Private Investigation and Security Agencies Act

(Chapter 249, Section 27)

Rg 1

G.N. No. S 387/1973

REVISED EDITION 2000

(31st January 2000)

[1st December 1973]

Citation

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Private Investigation and Security Agencies Regulations.

Application for licence

2. An application for a private investigator’s licence or a security guard agency’s licence shall be made in Form A set out in the Schedule.

Private investigator’s licence

3. A private investigator’s licence shall be in Form B set out in the Schedule.

Fee for private investigator’s licence

4.—(1) The fee payable for a private investigator’s licence shall be $400 per year or part thereof.

(2) The fee payable for each copy or a replacement of a private investigator’s licence shall be $10.

Security guard agency licence

5. A security guard agency’s licence shall be in Form C set out in the Schedule.

Fee for security guard agency’s licence

6.—(1) The fee payable for a security guard agency’s licence shall be $400 per year or part thereof.

(2) The fee payable for each copy or a replacement of a security guard agency’s licence shall be $10.

Personal particulars

7. The statement of personal particulars submitted under section 14(1) of the Act to the licensing officer by a person seeking employment to assist in the work of a private investigator or as a security guard shall be in Form D set out in the Schedule.

Identification paper for private investigator

8. An identification paper issued under section 15 of the Act to a person employed to assist in the work of a private investigator shall be in Form E set out in the Schedule.

Identification paper for security guard

9. An identification paper issued under section 15 of the Act to a person employed as a security guard in a security guard agency shall be in Form F set out in the Schedule.

Photograph to be affixed to identification paper

10.—(1) A photograph of the size and form suitable for passports of the person to whom an identification paper is to be issued shall be affixed to the identification paper.

(2) The size of the identification paper in Forms E and F set out in the Schedule shall be 10.5 cm by 14.8 cm and these forms shall be printed on white paper in black ink.

Annual returns

11.—(1) A licensee shall submit to the licensing officer an annual return of all persons employed by him to assist him in the work of a private investigator or as a security guard in his business in Form G set out in the Schedule.

(2) The annual return shall be made at such time as the licensing officer may direct.

Personal particulars of assistants

12. When a licensee employs any person to assist him in the work of a private investigator or as a security guard, the licensee shall, within 14 days of such employment, submit to the licensing officer the full personal particulars of the person as follows:

(a)	name — in English and, if applicable, in Chinese characters;
(b)	NRIC No. (with official reference);
(c)	former identity card number;
(d)	race;
(e)	sex;
(f)	date of birth;
(g)	citizenship;
(h)	home address;
(i)	date of commencement of employment; and
(j)	serial number of identification paper issued to the person by the licensee under section 15 of the Act.

Assistant ceasing to be employed

13. When a person employed by a licensee to assist him in the work of a private investigator or as a security guard ceases to be so employed, the licensee shall, within 14 days of the cessation of employment, inform the licensing officer of this fact.

14.—(1) A licensee shall at all times maintain an up-to-date register of all persons employed by him to assist him in the work of a private investigator or as a security guard.

(2) The register shall contain the personal particulars specified in regulation 12.

Change of particulars

15.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a licensee shall, within 14 days of any change taking place in any of the particulars that were declared by the licensee in his application for a licence, inform the licensing officer in writing of the change.

(2) Where a licensee who has changed his residential address makes a report within 14 days of the change under section 8 of the National Registration Act (Cap. 201), he shall be deemed to have informed the licensing officer of the change in his residential address in compliance with paragraph (1).

Change in partnership

16.—(1) When a licence is granted to a partnership and there is a change in the partnership, the new partnership shall, within 14 days of the change, make a written application for the licence to be transferred to them and the licensing officer may, in his discretion, permit a transfer of the licence.

(2) A fee of $50 shall be payable on the transfer of the licence.

Request for information

17. The licensing officer may, at any time by notice in writing, require a licensee to furnish him, within 14 days of the notice, with any information the licensing officer may require concerning the licensee’s business or employees.

No change of name until after licensing officer is informed

18.—(1) A licensee shall not change his business address or the name under which his business is carried on until he has informed the licensing officer in writing of the intended change and the licensing officer has granted his written approval for such change.

(2) A fee of $35 shall be payable on a change of address or the name under which the business is carried on.

Surrender of licence

19. Where a licence is revoked by order of the licensing officer, the licensee shall, within 14 days of the revocation order taking effect, surrender the licence to the licensing officer.

Surrender of identification papers

20. Where a licence is revoked by order of the licensing officer, the licensee shall, within 14 days of the revocation order taking effect, surrender to the licensing officer all identification papers issued by him to his employees.

Equipment

21. A licensee shall not issue to his employees or permit them to use any uniform, badge, emblem, two-way radio communication equipment, handcuffs, truncheon, siren, mechanical or electronic device or other equipment without first obtaining the prior approval in writing of the licensing officer.

Protection of information

22. No person shall, otherwise than in the performance of his duties or in the course of his business, reveal any information of a private or confidential nature which was acquired by him or which came to his knowledge in the course of his duties as a private investigator or as a security guard.

Security transportation

23.—(1) Any licensee of a security guard agency who wishes to provide any security transportation shall notify the licensing officer in writing that he intends to provide such a service.

(2) Where such licensee is transporting any cash exceeding $250,000, or gold, jewellery or other valuables of a value exceeding that amount, he shall ensure that there are at least 2 armed guards from an agency approved by the licensing officer to protect such property while it is being transported.

(3) In this regulation, “security transportation” means the transportation of cash, gold or other valuables by whatever means.

(4) For the purposes of this regulation, a person shall be deemed to be providing security transportation if he furnishes or provides or notifies or states that he is willing to furnish or provide or in any way holds himself out to the public as ready to furnish or provide security guards for the transportation of cash, gold or other valuables for or in consideration of any remuneration.

False statements, etc.

24. Any person who, in any form, document, return or notice submitted to the licensing officer or in any register which he is required to maintain under these Regulations, makes any statement which is false or furnishes any particular which is false or knowingly omits to furnish any particular which is required to be furnished shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

Photographs and fingerprints

25. The licensing officer may, at any time, require the taking and recording of photographs and fingerprints of persons applying for a licence and of every person employed by a licensee or seeking employment with a licensee.

Offences

26.—(1) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person guilty of an offence for which no penalty is expressly provided shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months.

Search within Legislation