Beacon acts as police 'eyes' for safety of parkgoers
Structure, now on trial for a year, enables officers to observe and talk to park visitors
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Cara Wong
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To enhance police presence and enable quick intervention in park connectors, the police are trialling a new technology structure that will allow parkgoers to ask for and receive help quickly.
The Police Beacon, a structure comprising closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and a communications button linked to the police operations command centre, makes it possible for officers in the command centre to observe and talk to parkgoers.
The first beacon prototype was launched last Friday at the Punggol Waterway park connector by Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan.
The second prototype at Sengkang Riverside Park will be operational by the end of this month.
Besides communication capabilities, the structure also has warning features such as a siren, speakers, blinkers and floodlights.
In addition, the beacon has an automated external defibrillator, with the police receiving an alert when members of the public access it. Officers at the command centre will then assess the situation and mobilise emergency medical services as required.
An electronic screen attached to the beacon displays crime prevention messages.
The police will monitor calls and live video feed from the structure at a separate workstation in the command centre.
Mr Tan said the beacon allows for "immediate mitigation of incidents" through warning systems, such as the activation of floodlights and public announcements.
"This will hopefully allow members of the public to have some assurance that the police are supporting them while the response team tries to arrive as soon as possible," he said during the launch event last Friday.
Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Lionel Lee, operations officer in the police's Future Operations and Planning Division, said park connectors were chosen as the areas are relatively more secluded and have fewer CCTVs.
The police already have a strong presence in crowded areas such as the Orchard Road belt, which is well covered by surveillance technology and police patrols, he said.
He added that both prototypes will be trialled for a year. If the trial is a success, the force will look into deploying more beacons in park connectors and public spaces.
The beacon technology was developed in collaboration with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) over the past year. Although the beacon's components are not new, HTX's Victor Yuen, head of operations systems in the agency's Policing Programme Management Centre, said the innovation here lies in integrating such technology into the police's workflow.
DSP Lee added: "The Singapore Police Force will continue to explore and adopt technology that enhances our capabilities to keep Singapore safe and secure."
