SINGAPORE — The Singapore Police Force should look into cutting red-tape for activation protocols, better training for frontline officers to deal with riots and improving their overall communication strategies.

More services and amenities should also be made available to foreign workers beyond the main areas where they congregate, such as Little India, instead of just enhancing the security features of these public places.

The Committee of Inquiry (COI) looking into the Little India riot made these recommendations in its report released today (June 30).

On cutting layers of approval or time needed to activate resources for responding to emergencies, the committee said this was a factor that slowed down the arrival of the Special Operations Command (SOC).

“The Singapore Police Force should use the lesson of the riot to proactively seek our other areas where unnecessary red tape can be cut, to be able to meet Singapore’s security needs more swiftly in times of need,” the committee wrote in the report.

In terms of communication plans, the committee recommended that the police increase their technological capabilities to help them see what is happening on the ground. There is also a need to upgrade communications systems such as giving priority to the commanding officer and direct communication between the ground commander and emergency resources like the SOC.

The committee also felt that frontliners should be better trained for riot prevention and crowd control. Uniforms should be worn by officers wherever possible as “the psychological effect on rioters on seeing officers in full or official gear should not be underestimated”, they added

And to reduce congestion and crowding of areas where foreign workers gather, the committee recommended that Government agencies and employers of foreign workers look into providing common services in dorms. There is also a need to form communication platforms among stakeholders like residents and shop owners to seek regular input.

For amenities in congregation areas, the committee suggested that general infrastructure like toilets could be provided, alongside improved security in these places. These measures should also be extended to other congregation areas, especially Geylang, which bears similar challenges and features to Little India, the committee said.