SINGAPORE — Second Home Affairs Minister S Iswaran has given the assurance that authorities remain resolute in its commitment to maintain law and order in the Geylang area, and will take additional measures where necessary.

He was responding to a question from the area’s Member of Parliament Fatimah Lateef, who wanted an update on the management of disamenities caused by vice-activities.

Mr Iswaran said police have deployed significant resources on the ground.

Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre has about 160 officers, 60 per cent more than the usual staffing in other centres.

In the evenings, especially on Fridays and weekends, additional police fast response cars are deployed to augment the regular fleet.

Special Operations Command troopers are also deployed in the area on a regular basis. Mr Iswaran said SOC troopers were deployed in Geylang on 41 occasions last year.

Apart from police presence, CCTVs and street-lights were added to the back alleys and side lanes to deter streetwalking and other illegal activities.

Mr Iswaran said police will augment the current 47 CCTV cameras in the area with 160 more CCTV cameras. He added that the police are also working with the Land Transport Authority to further enhance the lighting conditions in the area.

Mr Iswaran said illegal activities have been contained.

The number of major offences in the Lorongs in Geylang has fallen by 36 per cent since 2008.

Geylang was in the spotlight recently when Police Commissioner Ng Hoo Hee said during the Committee of Inquiry into the Little India riot that Geylang poses “a clear and present danger to public order”, more so than Little India. CHANNEL NEWSASIA