Since March, Indian nationals Rajangam Tamilarasan, 40, and Pushparajan George, 34, have been dishing out advice to fellow workers living in their dormitories.

As Foreign National Crime Prevention ambassadors, they act as mentors on safety tips and Singapore laws.

'There is great cultural difference between Singapore and the countries we come from. In India, we can gather in large groups and talk loudly at night, we can urinate in the bushes, but we can't do that here,' said Mr Tamilarasan, a commercial engineer who has worked here for eight years.

Since March, 85 foreign workers of various nationalities from 10 dormitories have been trained under this police initiative.

They have worked here for several years, usually hold a supervisory role, have good rapport with their countrymen and speak simple English.

During their two-hour long monthly meetings with the police, they get crime-prevention publicity materials like newsletters and posters highlighting crime trends in their estate and how to keep themselves safe.

The ambassadors said the lessons were educational. Their favourite was learning how to use a fire extinguisher.

Mr George said: 'I never thought I would get the chance to hold it. It's always just there on the wall, isn't it?'

But being an ambassador may not endear them to their peers, who call them 'police spies'.

Mr George said he has earned a few slaps trying to break up drunken fights.

He said: 'They tell me to mind my own business. If they become too aggressive, I call the police.

'Some may not like me, but I'm doing this to help fellow workers.

'Workers don't come to Singapore to break laws. When they do, it's because they are ignorant.'

arlina@sph.com.sg