Mission: We work as a team, in partnership with the community, to make Singapore our safe and secure Best Home.

The mission of MHA is to make Singapore a safe and secure best home for our people. Guided by Ministry Headquarters, the functions of preserving internal security, enforcing law and order, and protecting lives and property are carried out by six departments. They are the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Internal Security Department (ISD), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Prisons Department, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). A total budget of $2,604.6 million has been allocated to MHA in FY2007 to achieve this mission.

Outcomes

To measure our success in achieving our vision, MHA has developed a set of nine desired outcomes. These desired outcomes are our qualitative long term goals and comprehensively cover the different aspects of our vision of making Singapore a safe and secure best home for our people. MHA thus aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• A safe and secure society where life and property are protected
• Efficient registration of groups and people
• Secure borders with efficient and legitimate flow of goods, people and conveyances
• Secure and humane custody of prisoners
• Effective rehabilitation of prisoners
• A society free from drug activities
• A Singapore well-prepared for emergencies, civil disasters and unconventional threats
• A Home Team committed to organisational excellence and prepared for future challenges
• Successful partnership with the community to maintain a safe and secure society

A safe and secure society where life and property are protected

This desired outcome is MHA’s long term target for our law enforcement and fire-fighting efforts. $1,398.9 million, which amounts to 53.7% of MHA’s budget will be spent to achieve this desired outcome. The bulk of this amount will be channelled to the operations of SPF and SCDF. The primary functions carried out under SPF include upholding the law, protecting life and property, preventing crime and disorder, detecting and apprehending offenders, and preserving security within mainland Singapore and Singapore Territorial Waters, while those under SCDF include the provision of fire fighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services.

Some of the major initiatives and programmes undertaken to support this desired outcome are:

• $36.7 million will be allocated for the construction of new Civil Defence public shelters in MRT stations along the Circle Line, as well as for the maintenance of existing public shelters around Singapore. The development and maintenance of these shelters will provide better protection for Singapore’s residents in times of national emergency. Other than fulfilling the desired outcome of having a safe and secure society, this project also achieves the outcome of Singapore being well-prepared for emergencies, civil disasters and unconventional threats.
  
  
  
• With the introduction of the Integrated Resorts (IRs) in 2009, pre-emptive initiatives will be put in place to stem the potential proliferation of syndicated criminal activities in Singapore, thus enhancing MHA's combat against organised crimes. This includes the setting up of the Anti-Unlicensed Money Lending (AUML) Task Force within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The dedicated unit aims to consolidate MHA’s efforts against syndicated unlicensed money-lending. Besides leveraging on technology in their enforcement efforts, the task force will also focus on training its investigators to ensure that they are at the cutting edge of enforcement.
  
  
• $12 million will be allocated for the procurement of new Coastal Patrol Crafts to replace the current fleet of ageing crafts. Other than fulfilling the desired outcome of having a safe and secure society, this project also achieves the outcome of Singapore being well-prepared for emergencies, civil disasters and unconventional threats. The new Coastal Patrol Crafts would entail faster response to incidents at the seas and are equipped with enhanced surveillance technology for higher detection and interception capabilities of undesirable elements. Also, these crafts are outfitted with fully automatic weapon systems which will help to track targets better and have higher engagement accuracy. This is a significant step for the Police Coast Guard (PCG) to fulfill its mission of maintaining law and order, as well as surveillance in Singapore Territorial Waters, especially with the increase in threat levels in the maritime environment.
  
  
• $11 million will be invested in the advanced phases for the Unified Closed Circuit Television Management System (UCCMS) and Public Camera Zone (PCZ). Implementing wide CCTV surveillance coverage across Singapore is a critical operational capability for MHA’s continuous fight against crime and terrorism. These CCTV systems serve to deter criminal acts, detect them for timely intervention, facilitate better management of ‘live’ incidents and aid in post-incident investigations. In FY2007, MHA will expand the public CCTV coverage from the present four locations (Boat Quay, Geylang, Newton Circus and Little India) to other strategic city areas with high economic and security importance.
  
  
  
  
  
• $6 million for the construction of a new fire station (Banyan Fire Station) with HazMat response capabilities at the central location of Jurong Island extension, for the provision of comprehensive and speedy emergency response services. In order to strengthen Singapore’s position as a world-class chemical hub in the Asia-Pacific region, our government has embarked on further land reclamation to increase the landmass of Jurong Island, so as to attract more petrochemicals and related companies to set up bases/facilities in Singapore. With this expansion in landmass, SCDF’s current resources are insufficient to cater for this growth in fire and emergency response demand. The development of this new infrastructure will better serve and protect the industrial community, especially at the Jurong Island Extension, as well as the population on mainland Singapore.
  
  

Efficient registration of groups and people

This desired outcome is MHA’s long term target for registration services provided to people and groups such as visas, permanent residents (PR), citizenship services as well as registration of societies. This outcome will be achieved through facilitating the provision of immigration and registration facilities, such as the issuance of travel and identification documents, birth and death registration, processing and granting of immigration passes, Permanent Residence and Citizenship status, etc. $97.3 million will be spent to achieving this desired outcome. This constitutes 3.7% of MHA’s budget.

To achieve this outcome, we will be undertaking the following major initiative:

• $15 million will be allocated for the Central Identification & Registration Information System (CIRIS), while various electronic applications for immigration passes, visas and other facilities will also be developed. The objective of these projects is to improve efficiency, streamline processes through leveraging on technology, as well as increase public convenience by minimising the number of visits that have to be made to ICA. This project would also enhance security to ensure effective identification and authentication.
  
  

Secure borders with efficient and legitimate flow of goods, people and conveyances

This desired outcome represents MHA’s long term target of safeguarding our borders while at the same time ensuring an efficient flow of legitimate goods, people and conveyances through our borders. $264.8 million will be spent to achieving this desired outcome. This constitutes 10.2% of MHA’s budget with about 80% going towards the funding of operations/manpower costs and 20% towards funding development projects, of which some of the major initiatives would include:

• $16 million will be set aside to enhance intelligence gathering and enforcement at the various checkpoints, to detect and deter drug abuse and smuggling, thus preventing the entry of drugs into Singapore. Other than fulfilling the desired outcome of having secure borders, this project also achieves the outcome of Singapore being a society free from drug activities.
• $7 million will be used for the provision of people and goods clearance services at Changi Airport’s new Terminal 3. This project targets to meet the security standards needed to keep Singapore safe and secure, whilst at the same time, play our part in contributing towards Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore’s (CAAS) efforts in maintaining Changi Airport’s competitive edge and premier status. The new terminal is constructed to increase the passenger handling capacity of Changi Airport and is designed to handle the new generation of large aircraft, the A380.
• $0.7 million will be used for the deployment of the Enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System (E-IACS). Through this project, travellers are allowed to scan in their travel documents and present their fingerprints for verification. This project leverages on biometric technology to enhance the security in immigration clearance, and at the same time expedite immigration clearance, thus facilitating an increase in traveller volume.
  
  

Secure and humane custody of prisoners

This desired outcome represents MHA’s long term target of safe and secure custody of offenders in Prisons. $277.4 million will be spent to achieve this desired outcome. This constitutes 10.7% of MHA’s budget.

To achieve this outcome, we will be undertaking the following major initiative:

• $149 million will be allocated for the Redevelopment of Changi Prison Complex (CPC). The centralisation of Prisons’ institutions will allow for operations to be streamlined, the optimisation of manpower through re-engineering of work processes, and the release of valuable land parcels currently occupied by various Prison institutions for national redevelopment. The centralised arrangement of facilities will ensure faster mobilisation of manpower in the event of a crisis situation in any institution located within the complex, thereby leading to a safer and more secure Prison environment.
  
  

Effective rehabilitation of prisoners

The Home Team recognises that effective enforcement is only one part of the equation. Successful rehabilitation of ex-offenders would ensure that they do not re-offend, and become contributing members of society. $109.7 million will be spent to achieve this desired outcome. This constitutes 4.2% of MHA’s budget.

To achieve this outcome, we will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes:

• $2.6 million will be used to fund programmes to enhance the reintegration potential of released offenders. These programmes include the Literacy Education Accelerated Programme (LEAP), Rebuilding Lives Programme and Resettlement Programme. The LEAP programme seeks to increase the literacy level of offenders to better prepare them for the demands of the knowledge-based working environment upon their release, while the Rebuilding Lives and Resettlement Programmes seek to match released offenders with specific reintegration needs to help agencies to ensure that necessary support and care is present to help these ex-offenders reintegrate back to society successfully.
  
  
• $1 million will be set aside for the Yellow Ribbon Project to implement activities and events to create awareness on giving second chances to ex-offenders, generate acceptance of ex-offenders and their families into the community, and inspire community action to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders. This project also aims to create societal acceptance of ex-offenders, thereby creating a more tolerant and attractive society to live in.
  
  

A society free from drug activities

This desired outcome captures the long term target of our operations in narcotics control. $35 million will be spent to achieving this desired outcome. This constitutes 1.3% of MHA’s budget.

To achieve this outcome, we will be undertaking the following major initiative:

• As mentioned above, $16 million will be set aside to enhance intelligence gathering and enforcement at the various checkpoints, to detect and deter drug abuse and smuggling, thus preventing the entry of drugs into Singapore. MHA will also intensify our enforcement efforts through increased raids and operations against drug traffickers and abusers, so as to maintain drug abuse and availability of controlled drugs at a low level in Singapore.

A Singapore well-prepared for emergencies, civil disasters and unconventional threats

This desired outcome captures the Home Team’s core operations in the area of security and counter-terrorism. MHA aims to provide robust Homeland security for Singapore, to prepare Singapore well for any terrorist threats or emergencies. $147.9 million will be spent to achieving this desired outcome. This constitutes 5.7% of MHA’s budget.

To achieve this outcome, we will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes:

• As mentioned above, $36.7 million will be allocated for the construction of new Civil Defence public shelters in MRT stations along the Circle Line, as well as for the maintenance of existing public shelters around Singapore.
• $12 million will be allocated for the procurement of new Coastal Patrol Crafts to replace the current fleet of ageing crafts.
• $6 million for the construction of a new fire station (Banyan Fire Station) with HazMat response capabilities at the central location of Jurong Island extension.

Successful partnership with the community to maintain a safe and secure society

To maintain safety and security in an increasingly complex operating environment, it is not sufficient for the Home Team to do it alone. The Home Team cannot do everything and be everywhere. The community, too, has an important role to play in ensuring its own safety and security. This is why successful partnership with the community is one of the Home Team’s desired outcomes. $48.2 million will be spent to achieving this desired outcome. This constitutes 1.9% of MHA’s budget.

To achieve this outcome, we will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes:

• $9.9 million will be allocated to SPF’s United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) mission to Timor Leste (TL). SPF had been involved in various UN missions to countries such as Cambodia, South Africa and East Timor. Engaging in such missions help to promote and enhance Singapore’s status as a responsible global citizen and trusted friend in the UN community. In addition, it serves to improve the regional security climate while providing valuable experience to SPF officers.
  
  
• $3 million will be allocated to carry out preventive education activities which aim to promote a drug-free lifestyle. MHA will continue to organise preventive drug education programmes with the community, such as with educational institutions, grassroots organisations and self-help groups. Through community involvement in preventive drug education, we seek to increase public knowledge about the harms of drug abuse and clarify misconceptions.
  
  
• $2.5 million will be allocated to host international events in Singapore. Singapore, being an ASEAN member country, will play her role in the regional community by hosting the 27th ASEANAPOL conference in May 2007. This conference provides an excellent platform to foster networks, engage and strengthen existing relationships and partnerships of the law enforcement agencies of the ASEAN member countries. It also aids to enhance Singapore’s global reputation in combating transnational crimes and terrorism. In addition, MHA would be hosting the 3rd Heads of Coast Guard Agencies in Asia in late FY2007.