Volunteer Special Constabulary

The Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) is an important component of the Singapore Police Force, contributing more than fifty years of volunteer service to the nation. The VCS officers are embued with equal powers of a police officer to enforce law and order in Singapore.

The VSC comprises volunteers from all walks of life, from businessmen to blue-collar executives to even bus captains, bonded with the same aspiration to serve the nation by complementing the Singapore Police Force. VSC Officers don the same police uniform and patrol the streets, participate in anti-drug operations and sometimes even high-speed sea chases.

Previously headquartered at the Eu Tong Sen Street Police Station and Toa Payoh Police Station, it relocated to the new Police Cantonment Complex in year 2000.

History

The VSC was formed in 1946 to augment the slender ranks of the regulars immediately after the war, when manpower was badly needed to restore law and order. About 150 men responded to appeals made in the press and formed the pioneer batch of the VSC. The VSC has since grown and contributed significantly in maintaining law and order in Singapore.

The first test for VSC was during the Maria Hertogh riots in 1952, when VSC Officers performed duties alongside the regular forces in suppressing riots. Other achievements include the arrest of a communist arsonist, the arrest of a terrorist suspected of grenade attacks in Bras Basah Road and the quelling of the Hock Lee bus riots in 1955. One VSC officer, Andrew Teoh Boh Lan, was fatally injured during the Hock Lee bus riots.

Part-time National Service was introduced in 1967. The total force of the Special Constabulary, including volunteers and national servicemen, was 10,000 by 1977. The National Servicemen were required to serve 12 years on part-time basis. Up to 70% of them were deployed for patrol duties in neighbourhood policing units, in coast guard, radio and traffic divisions. A small number was attached to field services to help in crowd control.

Part-time Special Constabulary National Service was discontinued in 1981. However, some of them remained in the Force as volunteers up to this day.

Organisation and manpower

The strength of VSC currently stands at approximately 1,200 officers. At the apex of the VSC structure is the newly appointed VSC Commander, Mr. S Lakshmanan who holds the rank of DAC(V), Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police. The Commander is assisted by his Deputy Commander and Heads of respective divisions and units. The VSC organisation structure was recently reorganised to fall in line with the overall structure of the Singapore Police Force to complement the regular force in as many policing areas as possible.

;VSC RecruitmentThe VSC holds periodical outdoor recruitment drives to attract new blood. Applicants must meet certain basic physical and academic requirements, or can be former Police National Servicemen or ex-regular officers in the Singapore Police Force. Volunteer Police Officers (holding the rank of Station Inspector and below) must put in at least 16 hours of voluntary work in the Police Force every month while Senior Officers (holding the rank of Inspector and above) need to perform a minimum of 24 hours of voluntary service per month.

;VSC TrainingVSC recruits undergo basic non-residential training at the Police Academy (Home Team Academy). The Basic Course is conducted twice a week on weekday evenings for a duration of 9 months. It imparts volunteers with basic police skills, basic legal knowledge, street craft, firearms training, drill and T-baton training and unarmed combat. They will be required to pass prescribed examinations at the end of each stage of the training. Upon completion of their basic training, VSC officers have opportunities to attend other developmental and advanced courses. Such courses involve leadership, police operations and tactics.

;Posting & DeploymentUpon graduating from the Police Academy, VSC Officers are posted to various Land Divisions (one of the 6 Police Land divisions) or Specialised Units (Airport Police, Police Coast Guard, Traffic Police, Central Narcotics Bureau, MRT Unit and Training Command) where they will work with the regular policemen. Most VSC officers posted to land divisions take on the role of an NPCO (Neighbourhood Police Center Officer) - and respond to 999 calls together with the regular counterparts. It is virtually impossible to tell a VSC officer apart from a regular officer from the uniform or equipment because volunteers are dressed and equiped in the same way as regulars.

;Terms of ServiceVSC Officers may remain active in service as long as they are medically fit. Police Officers serve up to the age of 50 and Senior Officers serve till the age of 55 years.

;PaymentNaturally being volunteers, VSC officers are not "paid" for their duty hours. But an allowance (to cover transport and meals) of SGD 3.6 is claimable per hour of admin or operational duty regardless of rank.

ee also

*Civil Defence Auxiliary Unit

External links

* [http://www.spf.gov.sg/about_spf/vsc/index.htm Volunteer Special Constabulary]
* [http://www.spf.gov.sg/epc/vsc/explan.html Volunteer Special Constabulary Application Form]