Nov 11, 2004
8,000 police troopers to fight
terror
New 11ha training centre to bolster number of specially trained
police NSmen to guard vital locations here
STORM TROOPERS: In a mock exercise, an immediate response team
advances into a building occupied by suspected terrorists. --
LIANHE ZAOBAO
MORE operationally-ready police national servicemen will be
deployed to guard key installations (Kins) over the next three
years as part of government moves to strengthen national
security.
By 2007, 55 Kins units comprising more than 8,000 specially trained
troopers will be deployed to secure vital locations like power
stations, reservoirs and telecommunications facilities, with the
help of a new training facility officially opened in Ulu Pandan
Road yesterday.
Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs Ho Peng Kee, who
opened the facility, said that the new centre will cut trooper
training times by half, from four to two years.
'This new training ground signifies that a new breed of Kins
officers are being trained to handle post-9/11 challenges in the
security and protection of Singapore's installations,' said
Associate Professor Ho.
Since the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, the
Government has placed increased importance on Kins units.
But police moves to bolster the force have been hampered by a lack
of facilities at its former Queensway base.
The new 11ha site not only helps to reduce training times but will
also improve and build up operational capabilities, said Deputy
Superintendent Paul Lim Choon Wui, deputy director of the police
national service department.
The new camp comes complete with areas for high-powered weapons
training, fighting in built-up areas, trenching and military
defence tactics.
DSP Lim, who is also the deputy commander of Kins, said that 25
units, each consisting of more than 100 officers, have undergone
training at the new camp since April.
'The men trained are different from normal patrol officers, most
notably in the different arms they use, which include short to
mid-range assault rifles,' he said.
He described the response from the men as very positive.
'Because of the training they go through - they live with each
other for up to 26 days each year - they have developed a very
strong camaraderie and this is very important for the kind of
para-military operations they undertake,' he said.
Police national service department director Woon Sian Hai stressed
the training was condensed without any lowering of the rigorous
paratrooper standards.
FAST HANDS: Kins officers are trained in different arms, and they
are adept at dismantling and assembling assault weapons. -- LIANHE
ZAOBAO
