SINGAPORE - The Police - not the English rock band but our very own Singapore Police Force Band, together with their counterparts from New York and Tokyo - will perform for three nights here, in the 19th annual World Police Band Concert.

The Singapore Police Force is hosting the international event for the first time since 2003, to spread the message of safety and peace in the world through music.

Three police bands - the Singapore Police Force Band, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Band and the New York City Police Department Band - will perform together here from Monday to Wednesday, to strengthen the relationships among police communities around the world.

The Concert will kick off with a street parade at 5PM on Monday, at the Marina Bay Sands Waterfront Promenade.

Monday's parade is open to the public, who will also enjoy performances by percussion ensemble Nadi Singapura, and the Combined Pipes Band of the Boys' and Girls' Brigades.

Two more performances will be held at the M Hotel on Tuesday and the Esplanade Concert Hall on Wednesday, but these are by invitation only.

First organised by the Mainichi Newspapers of Japan in collaboration with the Police Forces in Japan in 1996, the World Police Band Concert has since been held in major cities across the world including Paris, Seoul and Berlin.

The Singapore Police Force Band is one of the oldest bands in Singapore. Since 1925, the band has evolved from a 33-bandsmen regimental marching band to the 75-strong performing band it is now.