Sky's the limit as new high-tech police devices keep an eye on New Year countdown

SPH Brightcove Video
The Singapore Police Force rolled out enhanced high-tech capabilities to improve security measures at mass events like the New Year’s Eve countdown, including a new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
An unmanned Aerial Vehicle, a new security feature being deployed at the New Year countdown, being showcased at Tanglin Police Division on Dec 28, 2017. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Senior Staff Sergeant Yu Wan Ling is monitoring CCTV footage inside the Division Command Vehicle at Tanglin Police Division on Dec 28, 2017. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A police camera with light and sound capabilities is installed at Clarke Quay on Dec 28, 2017. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
A Division Command Vehicle at Tanglin Police Division on Dec 28, 2017. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

SINGAPORE- The Singapore Police Force's new Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) took to the skies for the first time on Sunday (Dec 31) with its flashing red and blue blinkers resplendent at the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2018.

The UAV is part of a slew of enhanced operational capabilities being rolled out by the police to improve security measures at large-scale events.

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Law, said on Sunday (Dec 31) that thousands of officers were on higher alert for year-end festive events, like countdown celebrations including the one at Marina Bay.

Regular police officers, full-time National Service (NS) officers, Operationally Ready NS officers and Volunteer Special Constabulary forces were all deployed, he added.

There were a total of 25 countdown events islandwide, with the largest at Marina Bay seeing about 350,000 people.

"We have very high level of security measures," said Mr Shanmugam at the sidelines of constituency event at Canberra Drive.

Singapore is "an obvious target", he said, noting that ISIS had recently issued a video featuring Singaporean Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39. In it, ISIS called for attacks against non-Muslims.

"There will be mad people who might actually go out and try and attack, in different countries," added Mr Shanmugam.

He highlighted the use of technology in safeguarding people at mass events where such attacks may occur.

The UAV is one example. "The prototype is fitted with a full high-definition camera and a high-intensity searchlight. It will complement the police boots on the ground and give a bird's-eye view of the crowd during major events, just like the New Year's countdown party," said a police spokesman, during a preview last week.

Other initiatives, such as new Division Command Vehicles and the enhanced police cameras fitted with speakers and lights, can be expected to be seen on such occasions.

In addition, police also revealed that it deploys the Gurkha Contingent and Special Tactics and Rescue (Star) snipers during events with large crowds.

More than 700 officers were deployed for the Marina Bay Countdown 2018 with the Gurkhas and Star snipers complementing other police units on duty.

Police have trialled UAVs during past major events, such as the National Day Parade, but their capabilities were limited to visual surveillance, said a spokesman.

The one used for the countdown has a siren and a speaker that can broadcast announcements. It weighs 12kg and can record car number plates when flown from its maximum height of 60m. A spokesman said it took a few months to develop the prototype with industry partners like Aetos Security.

It is set to be fully deployed by the end of 2018 and can be used for search and rescue, hostage situations, public order incidents and enforcement operations.

The Division Command Vehicle, which was also deployed for the first time at the Marina Bay Countdown, is a more nimble version of the police's Forward Command Vehicles and allows a mobile command post to be set up quickly.

It has a retractable camera on its roof, extending 5.8m from the ground, to conduct 360 degree surveillance and view incidents up to 150m away. It can be used during public order cases like riots and prolonged incidents such as hostage situations. It can be deployed more easily and faster than Forward Command Vehicles, which will be phased out.

A police camera with speaker and light capabilities is also on trial. It has been used near public entertainment outlets at Clarke Quay for the past two months and was in operation at various locations for the Marina Bay Countdown party.

The speaker and light features allow police to respond to crimes or incidents in progress by playing pre-recorded messages to warn people in the vicinity and brighten the location when suspicious activity is detected.

"This may help to prevent the situation from escalating further before police's arrival," said a spokesman.

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