Explainer: What does the SAF Military Police Command do, and who can its personnel arrest?
SINGAPORE — The role of Singapore's military police has come into the spotlight after a recent incident where an apparent imposter claimed to be from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Police Command.

A file photo of some members of Singapore's military police performing a rifle stunt at a media preview of the Army Open House.
This audio is AI-generated.
- Interest in the role of the military police was sparked by a recent incident where a motorcyclist claimed to be such an officer
- An argument between a motorcyclist apparently clad in an army uniform and a driver made the rounds of social media
- The Ministry of Defence later clarified that the motorcyclist was not a regular serviceman or from the SAF Military Police Command
- While the military police have powers similar to policemen, they can generally exercise their powers only on those liable to military law
- Military policemen also take on several other duties such as when needed during ceremonies for national events
SINGAPORE — The role of Singapore's military police has come into the spotlight after a recent incident where an apparent imposter claimed to be from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Police Command.
A police report was filed by the Singapore Army after a motorcyclist claimed to be from the command and told a motorist that that he could impound a vehicle during an argument captured on an in-vehicle camera.
In a minute-long video published by Facebook page SG Road Vigilante, a motorcyclist apparently clad in the SAF uniform stops in front of a car along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE). This supposedly took place on March 28.
During the argument between the car driver and motorcyclist, the motorcyclist uttered an expletive and claimed that he was part of the military police, before asking the driver if he wanted his car to be impounded.
The driver responded that he was "not scared" and asked the motorcyclist to call the police. The motorcyclist then walked back to his motorcycle and rode off.
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) told TODAY on Wednesday (April 3) that the motorcyclist is not a regular serviceman and not from the SAF Military Police Command.
Still, the incident sparked questions about the powers of the low-profile military police.
TODAY sheds light on the SAF Military Police Command, what military policemen do and what powers they have.
WHAT IS THE MILITARY POLICE COMMAND?
Mindef's website states that the SAF Military Police Command upholds and enforces military law, order and discipline in the SAF during peacetime and war.
"They (the Military Police Command) safeguard key military installations round the clock, provide protection for vital camps and bases, and perform security operations and ceremonial tasks for national events," it adds.
The command comprises of several vocations that conduct enforcement, security, ceremonial, incarceration and criminal investigation operations.
Military policemen, in particular, have several duties that include:
- Conducting enforcement spot checks in SAF camps, bases, vessels and on servicemen
- Conducting anti-riot operations in SAF camps and detention barracks
- Investigating and arresting people in SAF if they are found to be breaching military law
The allocation of these duties depends on the platoons to which the military police are assigned.
For example, military policemen in the Special Security and Protection platoon provide protection cover for key appointment holders in Mindef and SAF.
And those in the Presidential Guards platoon take on duties such as standing guard at the Istana, which is the official residence of the country's president.
The Military Police Command also runs the SAF Detention Barracks in Yew Tee, the only custodial facility for incarcerated military offenders.
Beyond that, the formation also has an agency for criminal investigations in Mindef and SAF known as the Special Investigation Branch.
Officers under this branch investigate criminal activities that occur under SAF’s purview such as white-collar and cyber crime.
WHEN WAS THE MILITARY POLICE COMMAND FORMED?
The SAF Military Police Command, then called the SAF Provost Company, was launched on Aug 26, 1966 at Beach Road Camp — home to Singapore's first detention cells.
In the 1970s, the SAF Provost Company was merged with the Dog and Operations Companies to form the SAF Provost Unit, Mindef's website states.
On Sept 1 in 2006, the formation was renamed as the SAF Military Police Command.
Some five years later, in 2011, the SAF Military Police Command expanded to encompass the SAF Band, two battalions — called 8 SIR and 9 SIR.
It also and conducts security operations and supports departments at Gombak Base.
WHAT POWERS DO MILITARY POLICEMEN HAVE?
The Singapore Armed Forces Act states that military policemen have similar powers to police officers of the Singapore Police Force to arrest and investigate.
However, military policemen enforce military law — which means the types of offences they respond to may differ from those dealt with by regular police officers.
These are laid out in the Singapore Armed Forces Act, and include being absent without leave, abandoning your duty and malingering.
Mr Adam Maniam, deputy head of criminal law practice at law firm Drew & Napier LLC, explained that malingering is when someone pretends to be suffering from a sickness.
There are also several offences similar to civil offences, such as being in possession of drugs or falsifying documents.
The Act also states that only some people are subjected to military law, which means that military policemen have jurisdiction over them. They are:
- Regular servicemen and full-time national servicemen (NSF) in SAF, from when they are enlisted until they are discharged
- Operationally ready national servicemen, from when they are ordered to report for enlistment or service, and while in uniform or performing service in SAF
- Civilians who are on active duty with SAF
- SAF volunteers while they are on duty
- Foreign officers and soldiers while they are acting as a part of, or with, SAF
Mr Maniam said: "Military policemen also have the same powers of arrest as a police officer over a person not subject to military law who is in a place in the control or occupancy of the SAF, as well as a person not subject to military law who wilfully obstructs any military operation, training or function."
A former NSF who served as a military policeman told TODAY that military policemen can arrest SAF personnel outside of military grounds as well. He declined to be named because he is not permitted to speak to the media.
Lawyer Amarjit Singh Sidhu of Amarjit Sidhu Law told TODAY that whether the police or military police have purview over an offence depends on where it took place.
"For example, an SAF personnel books into camp and at a random check, he tests positive or is found in possession of drugs. He will be within the jurisdiction of the SAF," Mr Sidhu said.
However, if the member of SAF had molested someone outside of a military camp and is arrested, his case will likely be under the jurisdiction of the Singapore Police Force, the lawyer added.