SINGAPORE, March 9 — Organisers of large-scale public and private events here may soon be ordered to beef up security, such as put up barricades, conduct bag checks, and engage security officers, if a Bill to amend the Public Order Act is passed.
In the wake of recent terror attacks across the world that target large crowds, the Bill was introduced in Parliament today to require organisers of public events to notify the police at least 28 days before an event if they expect more than 5,000 attendees.
Private event organisers are required to so if they expect more than 10,000 people to show up.
Events that are assessed by the police to hold high risk for a terror attack or public order incident, or have potential to be disrupted will be declared Special Events and organisers could be made to put certain security measures in place.
This assessment will also take into account the nature of the event, the attendees and the prevailing threat situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a press release today.
Following which, organisers must work with the police to determine necessary security measures.
These measures will largely be similar to those already put in place of most large events today, unless the risk assessment requires further security measures.
Event organisers who do not comply with the police’s directions will have committed an offence. In such circumstances, the police can put in place the security measures and recover implementation costs from the organisers.
Events of national and international significance, such as the National Day Parade, will continue to be declared Enhanced Security Special Events.
Additional conditions may be imposed on participants and members of the public in the vicinity, said the MHA.
The amended bill — first mooted during the debate on the ministry’s budget last week — will also prevent foreigners from using assemblies and processions in Singapore to promote political causes, by giving the Commissioner of Police powers to reject such applications.
During the debate, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee also revealed that a new Infrastructure Protection Act will be introduced to establish a framework that ensures selected buildings have enough security measures to guard against threats.
It may also require building owners to adopt additional protective measures in the event of heightened threats.
Last December, following terror arrests in the region and the deadly truck rampage at a Christmas market in Berlin, several churches here had beefed up security measures for their Christmas services — such as conducting bag checks on churchgoers and visitors, hiring external security firms, and setting up dedicated committees to oversee security arrangements.
In July last year, a Bastille Day celebration in Nice turned into a nightmare when a speeding truck killed 86 people and injured 202 along a crowded promenade. — TODAY
