SINGAPORE - A mobile phone application which the public can use to sketch suspects from a crime they witnessed and send the information to the police was lauded by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday.

It was one of 25 inventions created by students working with the Home Team to resolve problems faced by police and civil defence officers which won awards at the ministry's biennial Excel Fest.

Another 32 Home Team officers and teams received 3i awards for their own innovative solutions at the ceremony at MHA headquarters in Novena.

Star Service awards were also presented to 66 officers for delivering excellent service to the public.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office S Iswaran, who was the guest of honour at the event, commended the officers for going beyond the call of duty.

Mr Iswaran, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, said: "There are also new opportunities through technological advancements and process improvements to do our work better."