SINGAPORE - The SGSecure mobile app is part of the raft of measures introduced as part of the SGSecure national movement.
Launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday (Sept 24), the SGSecure movement is aimed at getting people to stay united in the face of terror threats, and providing training on preventing and responding to attacks.
The app can broadcast important alerts during major emergencies and people can also use it alert the police of incidents or request for help, said Mr Lee.
How does it work? The Straits Times takes a look:
1. Download
To download it, go to Apple iOS app store or Google Play and search for "SGSecure". No registration is required. There are four tabs - Report, Emergency Call, Alerts and Get Ready.
2. Report
The "Report" tab is where users can send in information about suspicious incidents or objects.
These include items left unattended in public areas, people who are dressed in bulky clothing which may conceal hidden weapons or who are loitering for a long time, and video recording their surroundings.
There are three steps to sending in information, and it's like making a social media post. Fiirst, take a photo or video, and send it via the app.
Secondly, describe what happened in the next section. Finally enter the location where you witnessed the event. It can be automatically filled with your current location if you allow the app to access the phone's location.
Then click "submit". A submission ID will be assigned to the report.
3. Emergency call
There are three large strips under the "Emergency Call" tab which allows the user to call the police at 999, send an SMS to the police, or call emergency services at 995.
4. Alerts
"Alerts" is where users can check news flashes about emergencies. By tapping on the "map" icon on the top right of the screen, they can see where the event is happening on a map.
The first event that appears in the app is not an emergency but the launch of the SGSecure movement.
5. Get Ready
"Get Ready" has information about the SGSecure movement, and tips on what to do in the event of an attack or crisis.
