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Civil Defence
Here, you can find tips and advice that can better prepare you for handling emergency situations. You can learn about basic evacuation procedures, Civil Defence shelters as well as how to prevent fire accidents, chemical contamination and more!
Security
Every resident can play a role in keeping Singapore safe and secure. One way is by being vigilant and to report anything of suspicion. Learn how you can help identify suspicious persons or objects and put a stop to any activity that could threaten the safety of our fellow residents.
FAQ
Check our list of FAQs on Civil Defence and Security to find answers to common questions that are often asked by the public.
Threat of Terrorism
While presently there is no information of any specific terrorist threat against targets in Singapore, our security assessment is that the threat of terrorism to Singapore in the region remains real and significant.
Preparations Against Threats
To address such a threat, we have been pro-active in our approach. This has seen success in averting specific terrorist incidents in Singapore pursued by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) elements most of whom are now held in preventive detention under the Internal Security Act. This approach has also been reflected in the Government’s anticipation and focus on strengthening community relations to ensure that Singaporeans understand the character of this threat and not let the JI episode undermine good inter-ethnic confidence and relations.
Key Considerations
Given the limits of security resources, we have to first focus on the key areas like key installations and border security. In this regard, we are guided by threat assessments which are founded on an analysis of trends and available intelligence. Secondly, where necessary, we will provide a security cover over as much areas of vulnerability as possible, even if this effort sometimes border on being over-cautious. As such, when incidents occur abroad like in Beslan, these are closely studied and even though there may be no intelligence indicating a similar targeting in Singapore, we may decide to pro-actively adjust security measures in these areas if practicable and appropriate.
Get Ready. Be Ready. Stay Ready.
Notwithstanding these efforts, we recognise that there is always the risk of an attack occurring one day. As the Minister for Home Affairs has emphasised in the past, the security forces need to get it right all the time but the terrorist needs to get it right only once. Hence, community vigilance is an imperative. To make a country inhospitable to terrorists and be a hard target, public vigilance and alertness is the key resource in any society because no Government, however efficient and adequate its security forces, can protect everyone and everything in the country.
How much to do and where to prioritise limited security resources is a persistent question which Governments everywhere have to confront today. Likewise, on the one hand we want to sensitise our public to the reality of the threat and the possibility of an attack, knowing that public vigilance and resilience is critical to Singapore’s counter-terrorism efforts. On the other hand, we are mindful that we should not become despondent, paranoid and paralysed by fear. Life must go on and we must learn to live and adjust to the new security climate and environment. Staying positive and keeping a sense of balance is the key.