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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...-order-and-safety-special-powers-bill-9994906
MHA tables Bill to expand Singapore police powers to better deal with terror attacks
The Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill will make it an offence to take photos and videos of police tactical operations during a terrorist incident.
SINGAPORE: Photos and videos of police tactical operations during a terror attack could give perpetrators access to information that could help them, impede police work and endanger the lives of victims and law enforcement officers involved.
In order to prevent such a situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday (Feb 27) proposed a new Bill that will allow the Commissioner of Police to make a “communications stop order” while security operations are ongoing. It will require all people in the vicinity to stop filming or taking pictures of the incident area, or from sending them on to others.
The order under the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill 2018, will also ban text or audio messages about the operations.
Defying the order will be an offence, and those found guilty face a maximum fine of S$20,000, and up to two years in jail, or both.
Police will also be able to take down or disable unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles in and around the incident area, regardless of their intention and activity, with the proposed Bill. Currently, the police can act against such devices when they clearly pose a threat to public safety and security.
“Such unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles and vessels can be used for surveillance by the terrorists or even as weapons,” MHA said.
The special powers can only be used after the Minister for Home Affairs gives authorisation to the police.
MHA said the minister must be of the opinion that a "serious incident has occurred or is occurring in Singapore", or there is a threat that it will. The minister must also have deemed that the special powers are necessary to prevent it from happening, or to reduce its impact, to control, restore, or maintain public order, the ministry added.
MHA tables Bill to expand Singapore police powers to better deal with terror attacks
The Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill will make it an offence to take photos and videos of police tactical operations during a terrorist incident.
SINGAPORE: Photos and videos of police tactical operations during a terror attack could give perpetrators access to information that could help them, impede police work and endanger the lives of victims and law enforcement officers involved.
In order to prevent such a situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday (Feb 27) proposed a new Bill that will allow the Commissioner of Police to make a “communications stop order” while security operations are ongoing. It will require all people in the vicinity to stop filming or taking pictures of the incident area, or from sending them on to others.
The order under the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill 2018, will also ban text or audio messages about the operations.
Defying the order will be an offence, and those found guilty face a maximum fine of S$20,000, and up to two years in jail, or both.
Police will also be able to take down or disable unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles in and around the incident area, regardless of their intention and activity, with the proposed Bill. Currently, the police can act against such devices when they clearly pose a threat to public safety and security.
“Such unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles and vessels can be used for surveillance by the terrorists or even as weapons,” MHA said.
The special powers can only be used after the Minister for Home Affairs gives authorisation to the police.
MHA said the minister must be of the opinion that a "serious incident has occurred or is occurring in Singapore", or there is a threat that it will. The minister must also have deemed that the special powers are necessary to prevent it from happening, or to reduce its impact, to control, restore, or maintain public order, the ministry added.
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