Orchard Towers beefs up security in 11th-hour move for clubs and bars to continue operating, but police say no

SINGAPORE — Four men in neon yellow vests with the word “security” in large, white print patrol the floors and parameters of Orchard Towers every night, from 10pm to five in the morning.

These security personnel have been hired by the association handling businesses in Orchard Towers to manage safety in its public areas and deter soliciting, in hopes that the authorities would reconsider their decision to curtail the licences of operators in the building.

However, in response to TODAY’s queries, the police said that they are standing firm on their decision.

In a statement on Friday (Jan 27), the Singapore Police Force said that the licences of existing public entertainment outlets at Orchard Towers will not be renewed beyond May 31.

This affects 12 commercial units that hold a Category 1 Public Entertainment licence, which allows them to provide dancing, singing and live performances within the premises.

The operators at the 12 units had been told in July last year that their licences will not be renewed past May 31, 2023, a move the police said was part of “continued efforts to manage the law and order situation and disamenities”.

Known for its nightclubs and bars, the 18-storey mixed-use building — which also houses offices and apartments — located along Singapore’s prime shopping street has a notorious reputation for sleaze and brawls.

The police said on Friday that they have been engaging with public entertainment operators there over the years, in response to a consistently high volume of strong feedback from nearby residents and neighbouring developments on “public safety, vice activities and nuisance”.

“Business operators or property owners have been given from July 2022 to May 2023 to make adjustments.

”During this period, they may apply to the Urban Redevelopment Authority for a change of use application for their premises at Orchard Towers or apply for another public entertainment licence to relocate their operations,” the police said.

'STILL HOPEFUL' LICENCES WILL BE RENEWED

Still, some club owners are hopeful that the police will reconsider their stand.

The director of Filling Station Club at Orchard Towers, who wanted to be identified only as Mr Jothi, said: “Before we had additional security, big fights would break out at least once a week. Now, they rarely happen, and we usually only see some small commotion before security quickly resolves them.”

An executive at another club who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the increased security has made Orchard Towers "safer".

“The additional security has helped us beef up security, on top of our existing bouncers, and resolve fights that happen in our two clubs.

“But if the additional security doesn’t change the police’s stand, then we will have to comply with the authorities,” the executive added.

In a statement on Friday, the Orchard Towers Business Association (OTBA) said that the appointed security firm, A Security Pte Ltd, started operations on Jan 1 and has been deployed daily from 10pm to 5am the next day.

Some operators have also agreed to end their operating hours at 4am daily, instead of 6am, and signed a pact with the OTBA to keep night activities in the building “safe”.

“The OTBA hopes that the current initiative and efforts would allow the Singapore Police Force to reconsider their curtailment of public entertainment licence in Orchard Towers beyond May 2023 this year,” the association said. 

It added that the affected operators are now paying about S$22,000 a month for extra security services.

Mr Nasen Thiagarajan, president of the Singapore Nightlife Business Association, said that the four more security officers patrol the common areas and are supported by in-house guards.

“The guards will stop any forms of soliciting in public places… If they loiter, they will be asked to move along or leave the premises,” he added.

Previously, the building management provided three guards each night to man its residential property, the mall and the guard post. When brawls happen in public areas, the guards would call the police.

Mr Nasen admitted that the initiatives are not a silver bullet to the problem, but these can show both the authorities and operators that businesses can be carried out "safely".

Mr Jothi said that it is not easy for a night club to relocate and receive approval for a public entertainment licence.

“People are going to lose jobs. We are stuck and we don’t know what to do. Hopefully, the police can look into this matter and give us a chance,” he added.