The Central Narcotics Bureau and the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) will work more closely with non-government partners in anti-drug advocacy, in-care and aftercare, as part of a new initiative to begin in the next few months.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli announced this on Friday night at the Prison Volunteers Awards Ceremony, adding that this initiative is to "improve the collaboration and support" between the authorities and community organisations.

In anti-drug advocacy, the collaboration will involve improving the preventive education strategies here and sharing Singapore's "zero-tolerance approach" on drugs internationally, he said.

For the in-care and aftercare sectors, the SPS will be developing a training and development framework for volunteers and aftercare professionals.

This will equip them with the knowledge and skills needed, such as counselling and casework, to better support the rehabilitation of offenders.

At the awards ceremony, 130 volunteers were honoured for their contributions. GiGatt International Marketing was also presented the Outstanding Initiative Award, for providing the equipment and expertise in their Tattoo Removal Programme which has helped 369 offenders.