Revamped NPPs to bring police and local community closer together

SINGAPORE: Three Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) have undergone a revamp as part of an effort toward providing better access to services and fostering closer partnership between the police and the local community in neighbourhood peace and security.

The revamped NPPs are in Marsiling, Radin Mas and West Coast.

Police have chosen these areas as each has a different demographical profile to allow police to test the effectiveness of the revamped NPPs in serving both the younger and older users within the community.

At these NPPs, the police aim to improve service delivery to the public through round-the-clock automated access to their e-services.

An e-kiosk allows the public to make online police reports or apply for police documents. And if they encounter problems using the e-services, they can speak to an officer via video conferencing.

Besides police e-services, the public can also access ICA's e-services -- such as applying for a Singapore passport online and scheduling an appointment with ICA.

At Radin Mas NPP, police have also collaborated with POSB to enhance the range of automated services and provide additional convenience to residents with one-stop services, such as ATM and AXS machines.

There are also drop-boxes for residents to deposit items they may have found in a tamper-proof bag.

NPPs are usually manned, but with the automation of such services, officers can be deployed to other policing duties such as foot and bicycle patrols.

The NPP will also serve as an area for police to conduct its community engagement activities.

Each revamped NPP includes a new community zone for police to engage community partners and grassroots organisations.

For example, the community zone in West Coast NPP will be used for meetings and training sessions for members of West Coast Protectors, a local neighbourhood watch group.

Minister in Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran launched the revamped NPPs, together with the opening of the West Coast Wellness Club on Saturday morning.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Iswaran said the revamped NPPs will serve as a platform for the police and the local community to come together and work on joint programmes to build a safer and more secure neighbourhood.

He said: "The transformation of the Neighbourhood Police Posts represents an augmentation, of the role of the Neighbourhood Police Post beyond that of a police service centre.

"The revamped NPPs will serve as a platform for Police and the community to come together and work on joint programmes to build a safer and more secure neighbourhood."

As part of the rollout of the revamped West Coast NPP, the police have worked closely with the West Coast Wellness Club to train senior citizens to become Crime Prevention Ambassadors.

These senior citizens will advise residents on how to stay vigilant and also be trained to help residents in using automated e-services available at the revamped NPPs.

Thomas Lim, a West Coast Wellness Club volunteer and e-service ambassador, said: "The seniors today, many of us are quite afraid of technology. With this training, it also allows the seniors to feel very comfortable with technology and they find it so simple."

The police will gather public feedback during the six-month pilot at the three revamped NPPs before rolling out the revamp to all other NPPs in Singapore.

There are currently 63 NPPs in Singapore.

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