Tech replaces men in blue at Neighbourhood Police Posts

SINGAPORE — To free up police officers from their desk-bound duties, more Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) have undergone a revamp over the past two years to become fully automated, providing around-the-clock access to residents.

The police told TODAY there are now nine redesigned NPPs that provide self-service features, such as an e-kiosk with a touchscreen terminal to allow members of the public to report a crime and apply for police documents, among other things.

This is up from the initial three fully automated NPPs in West Coast, Radin Mas and Marsiling, which were announced as a six-month pilot in December 2013. There are currently 62 NPPs island-wide.

The newly redesigned NPPs are in Bishan, Boon Lay, Nee Soon South, Pasir Panjang, Siglap and Tanjong Pagar.

Of these, four NPPs also provide ATM and AXS machines.

Apart from the self-service features, members of the public can speak to a police officer stationed at the nearest Neighbourhood Police Centre via video conferencing should they need more help. There are also automated drop-boxes for lost-and-found property, as well as interactive tablets with various apps from government agencies and crime prevention advisories, available to the public.

One of the aims of the Community Policing System (COPS) rolled out in 2012 was to tap technology so that the police can free up manpower to better serve the community. “With the roll-out of COPS, the Singapore Police Force is leveraging technology to enhance the NPPs. This would provide residents round-the-clock access to automated services while allowing police officers to be redeployed from desk-bound duties to better serve the community,” said a spokesperson.

Asked about the choice of locations, the police said the decision was based on the “demographics of the neighbourhood to allow the Police to test the effectiveness in serving both the younger and older users”.

Member of Parliament (Nee Soon GRC) Lee Bee Wah noted that resident feedback on the revamped Nee Soon South NPP has been positive so far.

“In fact, (police patrolling) has been stepped up, I see more police presence in the HDB estates,” she said, adding however that it would be good to have someone stationed at the NPP.

The meeting rooms within the police post also provide more space for grassroots leaders and residents to use the facilities, she said.

In Marsiling, MP Halimah Yacob said the e-kiosk has been useful for technologically savvy younger residents, although most residents still prefer speaking face-to-face with a police officer. “It isn’t easy for an ordinary person to write a report capturing all the key elements of their complaint, even if they know how to operate the computer,” she said.

But it is important to have such options, she added, noting that as the population profile shifts over time, more will feel confident about using these e-kiosks at the revamped NPPs.

While the ATM and AXS machines bring more convenience, a Boon Lay resident who wanted to be known only as Mr Lee felt that it would be better to have at least one police officer at the NPP. “It can’t be the case where there’s no physical presence and there (are only) all these cameras around,” said the 34-year-old, who is self-employed.

The older generation might find it hard it use the automated interface, he noted, suggesting that they could be taught how to use the machines.

Going forward, there will probably be more e-platforms for the public to report a crime as the police continue to leverage technology, said the police, who will continue to evaluate the feedback received on the redesigned NPPs, to see how the delivery of such services to the public can be improved.