A neighbourhood police post (Abbreviation: NPP; Malay: Pondok Kejiranan Polis) is a small police station in Singapore modelled after the Japanese kōban system, whereby police presence is enhanced in the neighbourhoods with the aid of a high number of smaller police establishments.[1][2]

History

To tackle crime rates in Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew suggested that the Japanese Kōban system be studied.[2] Minister of Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng proposed the establishment of Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) in Singapore.[2]

In 1982, three members from the Japanese National Police Agency arrived in Singapore to help with setting up NPPs in the country.[3] The first NPPs were to be setup in Toa Payoh by July 1983 with an evaluation phase starting from October 1983.[4]

In 1986, there was a total of 34 NPPs with 57 more NPPs to be built leading to a total of 91 by 1989.[5]

In 1997, Wong announced a restructuring of the neighbourhood policing system with the creation of the neighbourhood police centre (NPP) and reducing the number of NPPs from 91 to 66.[6] The NPP would be subsequently managed by the NPC.[6]

In December 2013, a six-month pilot of automated NPPs, located at West Coast, Radin Mas and Marsiling, was announced.[7] The automated NPP has video conferencing ability, automated drop-boxes for lost-and-found property, and tablets with various apps from government agencies for general public use.[7]

In 2016, there was a total of 62 NPPs.[7]

Review

In 1986, crime rates in the Delta Constituency dropped by 53.5 percent after the opening of an NPP, with the decrease being attributed to its presence.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Embassy of Japan in Singapore". www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Community police system fully rolled out". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Koban to start in Toa Payoh". The Straits Times. 3 July 1982. p. 1. Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ↑ "9 'Koban' police posts will be set up". The Straits Times. 1 September 1982. p. 14. Retrieved 20 November 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. 1 2 "Police post in Delta cuts crime by half". The Straits Times. 14 July 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 17 November 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. 1 2 "Changes will mean faster, better service for public". The Straits Times. 25 July 1997. p. 42. Retrieved 21 November 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. 1 2 3 "Tech replaces men in blue at Neighbourhood Police Posts". TODAY. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
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