Police, retailers in central Singapore partner to deter crime

Rahayu Mahzam, Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC and a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law was the Guest of Honour for the event. In her speech, she referred to recent terrorist attacks in the region, and called on owners of retail and commercial establishments to be more vigilant and partner with the police to help ensure the safety and security of shoppers.

In a media release, police said the Central Division Retail Watch Group consists of retailers from major shopping malls such as Bugis+, Bugis Junction, Raffles City, Marina Square and Suntec City. Membership is also open to all other retailers whose outlets fall within the jurisdiction of the Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre.

Police added that this Retail Watch Group serves as a platform for the police and retailers to exchange information and tips on how they can strengthen vigilance and measures against potential terrorist attacks.

According to the release, the Central Division Retail Watch Group will implement two initiatives. Police will disseminate an e-newsletter to retailers with information on crime trends and statistics, as well as crime prevention and security practices. The second initiative is a “red teaming” exercise conducted by police and retail management.

“These exercises aim to test the effectiveness of the stores’ security features and the vigilance of the duty staff,” said the police in their statement. “Following these exercises, the police will hold a review with the retail management to reinforce the learning points.”