Public Order Act introduced

Public Order Act introduced to examine new realities in managing security
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 March 2009 1833 hrs

	Photos K Shanmugam
	Video Public Order Act introduced to examine new realities in managing security

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry wants to create a more effective legal framework when managing public order - one that is formal, coherent and transparent.

To achieve this, Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam introduced a new Public Order Act in Parliament on Monday. It examines new global realities in managing security and consolidates existing laws which regulate the conduct of activities.

The Public Order Act aims to distinguish between types of activities in outdoor settings - separating those assessed to be inherently higher than those with lower public order risks.

Presently, activities held for a certain cause are regulated together with recreational, social and commercial ones under the Public Entertainments and Meetings Act and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Under the new Public Order Act, cause-related activities will be regulated by permit, regardless of the number of persons involved or the format they are conducted in.

The Act will broaden police powers in dealing with public order incidents. Currently, in the face of an illegal assembly, police can either prosecute or arrest to prevent the incident from escalating.

In the Act, there will be a "move on order" clause. This allows the police to engage the offender and give him a chance to stop his unlawful activity without involving arrest. The order will be issued in writing.

The Home Affairs Ministry emphasised that major international events are trophy targets for terrorists.

As Singapore plays host to more of such events, the priority must be to ensure the security and safety of the delegates and Singaporeans. One key event this year is the APEC Leaders' Meeting in November.

Under the new Act, the minister can declare through a gazette notice certain events as special. This will then allow the police to exercise powers to preserve public order and the safety of those involved.

Finally, the Act also has orders on filming. The ministry said there are specific situations where the recording of an ongoing incident can jeopardise the success of security operations or the safety of officers.

So the Act empowers officers to prohibit persons from filming, communicating and exhibiting films of such activities.

Parliament will debate provisions of the Bill at its next sitting.

- CNA/yt

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=24859.1