SINGAPORE Police Force has won an international award for its initiative in getting businesses here involved in homeland security.

This award is given out by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the oldest and largest global non-profit membership organisation of police executives.

Only two agencies were awarded this year. The other winner is the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Singapore police received the Special Homeland Security Award on Sunday in San Diego, US, for its Safety and Security Watch Group scheme, which began in November 2003.

This scheme brings together the police and building owners in the same vicinity for regular meetings to update each other about potential security threats, among other things.

The IACP said that the police demonstrated 'how homeland security is not possible without involving citizens'.