From TODAYonline:
SMRT tightens security at bus interchanges
After the incident of the vandalised MRT train which went
undetected and unreported for two days, Singapore's public
transport system is now undergoing a comprehensive review as
announced by the Public Transport Security Committee last Friday.
One question which has been raised: Should this include making bus
interchanges less open and more of a hard target? Assuming this is
even practical. Currently, train depots are designated as protected
places.
A spotlight has been thrown on this issue after MediaCorp
checked out four bus interchanges in the early hours of the morning
last Friday, and found the interchanges easily accessible, with the
doors of the buses at one of them - the Yishun bus interchange
operated by SMRT - left completely open.
Responding to MediaCorp's queries on its findings, SMRT Buses
vice-president Kang Huey Ling said: "SMRT is committed to making
our public transport network safe and we take Today's findings
seriously. Besides a comprehensive review of all our security we
have implemented tighter security SOPs on all our premises, and
this includes regular audits checks to instil discipline on all
staff."
At the Yishun bus interchange at 4am last Friday, MediaCorp had
walked unchallenged into and around the interchange and found more
than 30 SMRT buses with their doors open. These buses were also
left unattended before drivers began arriving after 4.40am to start
their shifts. Asked why these bus doors were left open, Ms Kang
explained yesterday: "The buses were being aired".
Were the doors supposed to be left open?
Ms Kang said: "To further tighten security we have reiterated to
cleaners that cleaning of buses should be done one at a time, and
after completing each bus the doors should be closed."
Unlike train depots, which are wire-fenced, the Yishun
interchange's bus park is secured by a combination of wire fencing,
shrubs and hedges. At one stretch, the physical barrier consists
only of a fence made up of a few planks and ropes, and extends
upwards to under a metre in height.
Ms Kang said "there (are) security personnel" at the Yishun
interchange who perform periodic patrols and a night parking
assistant who carries out preparation for service the next day,
including random checks on the buses. However, MediaCorp was only
approached when a driver arrived for work at around 5am, an hour
after the reporter had been there.
"We note that one of our Service Leaders had spotted Today's
reporter and had requested for identification," said Ms Kang.
This appears to be the norm - earlier on Friday, security guards
at Pasir Ris and Hougang bus interchanges also sought
identification when the reporter neared the parked buses. SBS
Transit's parked buses at these interchanges had their doors
closed.
No guards and parked buses were however observed at Sengkang bus
interchange operated by SBS Transit between 2.30 to 3am. SBS
Transit spokeswoman Tammy Tan explained: "In interchanges where we
have buses parked overnight, security guards are deployed to ensure
the safety and security of the premises and the buses. In
particular, they will make sure that no one breaks into the buses
or tampers with them. In interchanges which do not have any buses
parked overnight, security guards are not deployed." And this was
the case with the Sengkang Interchange.
However, one temporary retail booth at Sengkang had its door
left open and unlocked. "We have since reminded all our tenants to
ensure that their booths are locked when they are unmanned," Ms Tan
said.
Member of Parliament Dr Lim Wee Kiak, who chairs the Government
Parliamentary Committee for Transport, told MediaCorp that in light
of the recent vandalism case, it is understandable that the public
takes a keener interest in security of public transport.
However, he cautioned against an over-reaction and pointed out
that public bus interchanges are quite accessible and open. "It is
not possible to protect them (buses) like military vehicles which
may translate to higher costs for the commuter."
While these incidents served as reminders to review public
transport security, Ms Ng Sue Chia - who specialises in transport
security research at the S Rajaratnam School of International
Studies - pointed out that an array of measures had been introduced
over the last few years to improve transport security. For example,
more cameras have been installed at bus interchanges and train
stations.
For SMRT's buses, Ms Kang said its drivers conduct "thorough
checks" before the start of the first service each day. "Service
leaders have been trained on how to look out for suspicious-looking
items left unattended in the bus, and must report any
irregularities to their supervisors immediately," she added.
MP Mr Lim agreed that public transport serves as soft targets
for terrorists, and more should be done to enhance the security,
but he asked: "The issue is how much is enough ... Are current
measures sufficient?" He has filed a parliamentary question on
public transport security for the Transport Minister to answer at
the next sitting of Parliament.
