The Special Operations Command (SOC) is a specialist tactical unit of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) specialising in riot control and high-threat incidents. It was formed on 10 September 1992 to unify specialist units into a single strategic reserve force that the regular officers need to call upon in any contingency plan and serious case of public disorder.
Special Operations Command
Motto
To uphold the law, maintain order and keep the peace in the Republic of Singapore
The current commander of the SOC is Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) Arthur Law Kok Leong and the deputy commander is Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Tan Kiat Hee.
In addition, there is also a Special Operations Training Command (SOTC) under SOC at Queensway Base.
HistoryEdit
Beginnings as the Reserve UnitEdit
Following the 1950 Maria Hertogh riots which killed 18, the Riot Squad was formed in June 1952 with 60 police officers at Kampong Batak in Jalan Eunos, to be trained in riot suppression. In October 1952, it was renamed the Reserve Unit (RU), and had grown to three troops of 50 officers each. It became operational in December 1952, with ASP J H Davies as its first officer-in-charge. In August 1955, the RU moved to its first permanent base in Mount Vernon. It also further acquired missions in search and rescue. Using lessons from the Hock Lee bus riots and Chinese middle schools riots, the RU was further upgraded with tear gas and smoke grenades, and also trained the rest of the police force in riot tactics. The RU was also expanded with a fourth troop specialising in illegal strikes and was based in the Old Hill Street Police Station, led by ASP Michael Chai.[2]
During the merger of Singapore and Malaysia, the RU was supplemented by manpower from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) of Malaysia. When Singapore was subsequently expelled from Malaysia on 9 August 1965, the FRU withdrew from Singapore and the RU had to train additional officers to occupy the vacancies. It was renamed the Police Reserve Unit (PRU). By late 1965, there were 5 PRUs totalling 15 troops.[2]
On 10 September 1992, the SOC was formally created to combine the Police Task Force, the Police Tactical Team, and the Police Dog Unit under one command. In 1993, the Special Tactics and Rescue was formed to replace the Police Tactical Team. Greater involvement of Police National Servicemen was seen with the inclusion of the National Servicemen Key Installation Unit in 1994, and the formation of the Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force in 1998.
In response to changing demands in urban security issues, the Police MRT Unit was formed in 2005 to provide armed security within and around stations and trains on the Mass Rapid Transit network. Pooled from both regular and NSF manpower resources, they are the first SOC unit to be formed which involves regular front-line policing from inception. From 15 August 2009, the unit was renamed as the Public Transport Security Command and became an independent unit, separating from the SOC.
Under the Police Workplan Seminar 2017, a new National Servicemen unit called the Public Order Troops was formed on September 2018 under PTU and it can be called upon to work alongside their regular counterparts during major incidents such as riots, national emergencies and public order incidents, as well as possible terrorist attacks, and the POT will be implemented in the year 2023.[3]
In the early morning of 25 April 1978, Constable Lee Kim Lai was abducted while he was performing sentry duties at the Police Reserve Unit (PRU) 1 base at Mount Vernon, and found stabbed to death in a taxi later.[5]
On 17 May 1978, SGT Toh Say Tin from the PRU 1 was on special duties when he slipped and fell overboard while attempting to board a boat from marine police speedboat PA 6 off Marine Parade. A non-swimmer, he was not wearing a life vest, and was swept away by the currents.[6] His body was found on 19 May 1978 about eight kilometres from the incident.[7]
EquipmentEdit
A red tactical vehicle used by the Special Operations Command
The SOC has been reported to use the following firearms:
^ abcKhair, Muhamad (8 December 2017). "Five Things You Should Know About the SOC". Ministry of Home Affairs. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special Operations Command (Singapore).
October 16, 2023
special, operations, command, singapore, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, special, operations, comman. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Special Operations Command Singapore news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed March 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Special Operations Command SOC is a specialist tactical unit of the Singapore Police Force SPF specialising in riot control and high threat incidents It was formed on 10 September 1992 to unify specialist units into a single strategic reserve force that the regular officers need to call upon in any contingency plan and serious case of public disorder Special Operations CommandMottoTo uphold the law maintain order and keep the peace in the Republic of SingaporeAgency overviewFormed10 September 1992 31 years ago 1992 09 10 Jurisdictional structureOperations jurisdictionSingaporeSpecialist jurisdictionParamilitary law enforcement counter insurgency and riot control Operational structureAgency executivesAssistant Commissioner AC Arthur Law CommanderDeputy Assistant Commissioner DAC Tan Kiat Hee Deputy CommanderParent agencySingapore Police ForceThe current commander of the SOC is Assistant Commissioner of Police AC Arthur Law Kok Leong and the deputy commander is Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police DAC Tan Kiat Hee Contents 1 Structure and units 2 History 2 1 Beginnings as the Reserve Unit 2 2 Incidents 3 Equipment 4 Engagements 5 References 6 External linksStructure and units EditThere are multiple full time units under the SOC 1 Police Tactical Unit PTU Special Tactics and Rescue STAR Police K 9 UnitIn addition there are auxiliary units who hold primary duties elsewhere in the SPF but have secondary appointments in these units when needed 1 Crisis Negotiation Unit CNU Special Women Task Team SWTT United Nations Peacekeeping Force UNPKF In addition there is also a Special Operations Training Command SOTC under SOC at Queensway Base History EditBeginnings as the Reserve Unit Edit Following the 1950 Maria Hertogh riots which killed 18 the Riot Squad was formed in June 1952 with 60 police officers at Kampong Batak in Jalan Eunos to be trained in riot suppression In October 1952 it was renamed the Reserve Unit RU and had grown to three troops of 50 officers each It became operational in December 1952 with ASP J H Davies as its first officer in charge In August 1955 the RU moved to its first permanent base in Mount Vernon It also further acquired missions in search and rescue Using lessons from the Hock Lee bus riots and Chinese middle schools riots the RU was further upgraded with tear gas and smoke grenades and also trained the rest of the police force in riot tactics The RU was also expanded with a fourth troop specialising in illegal strikes and was based in the Old Hill Street Police Station led by ASP Michael Chai 2 During the merger of Singapore and Malaysia the RU was supplemented by manpower from the Federal Reserve Unit FRU of Malaysia When Singapore was subsequently expelled from Malaysia on 9 August 1965 the FRU withdrew from Singapore and the RU had to train additional officers to occupy the vacancies It was renamed the Police Reserve Unit PRU By late 1965 there were 5 PRUs totalling 15 troops 2 On 10 September 1992 the SOC was formally created to combine the Police Task Force the Police Tactical Team and the Police Dog Unit under one command In 1993 the Special Tactics and Rescue was formed to replace the Police Tactical Team Greater involvement of Police National Servicemen was seen with the inclusion of the National Servicemen Key Installation Unit in 1994 and the formation of the Police National Service Full time Light Strike Force in 1998 In response to changing demands in urban security issues the Police MRT Unit was formed in 2005 to provide armed security within and around stations and trains on the Mass Rapid Transit network Pooled from both regular and NSF manpower resources they are the first SOC unit to be formed which involves regular front line policing from inception From 15 August 2009 the unit was renamed as the Public Transport Security Command and became an independent unit separating from the SOC Under the Police Workplan Seminar 2017 a new National Servicemen unit called the Public Order Troops was formed on September 2018 under PTU and it can be called upon to work alongside their regular counterparts during major incidents such as riots national emergencies and public order incidents as well as possible terrorist attacks and the POT will be implemented in the year 2023 3 The SOC also sets up and coordinates the specially trained Peacekeeping Force personnel for missions overseas under command of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations 4 Incidents Edit Main article List of Singapore police officers killed in the line of duty In the early morning of 25 April 1978 Constable Lee Kim Lai was abducted while he was performing sentry duties at the Police Reserve Unit PRU 1 base at Mount Vernon and found stabbed to death in a taxi later 5 On 17 May 1978 SGT Toh Say Tin from the PRU 1 was on special duties when he slipped and fell overboard while attempting to board a boat from marine police speedboat PA 6 off Marine Parade A non swimmer he was not wearing a life vest and was swept away by the currents 6 His body was found on 19 May 1978 about eight kilometres from the incident 7 Equipment Edit nbsp A red tactical vehicle used by the Special Operations CommandThe SOC has been reported to use the following firearms Sphinx 3000 pistol 8 Heckler amp Koch MP5 submachine gun 8 FN SCAR rifle 8 Engagements EditMay 1955 Hock Lee bus riots 2 1956 Chinese middle schools riots 2 July 1963 Pulau Senang prison riot November 1979 Tiong Bahru bus hijackingReferences Edit a b Specialist and Line Units spf gov sg Retrieved 13 May 2022 a b c d Poh Lye Hin Tan Tin Wee Rajan Leena Tham Yee Lin eds October 2013 Police Life Singapore Police Force First Police NSmen Public Order Troop to be formed by Sep 2018 CNA Specialist and Line Units Singapore Police Force True Files Season 1 Episode 8 The Sentry Television Series Singapore MediaCorp TV 2002 Feared dead Officer who fell into sea The Straits Times 18 May 1978 Body of sgt found The Straits Times 20 May 1978 a b c Khair Muhamad 8 December 2017 Five Things You Should Know About the SOC Ministry of Home Affairs Retrieved 15 May 2022 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special Operations Command Singapore Singapore Police Force Special Operations Command Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Special Operations Command Singapore amp oldid 1158030224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
