Volunteer Special Constabulary

Volunteer police force of Singapore

The Volunteer Special Constabulary (VSC) in Singapore comprises volunteers from the general public. VSC officers are imbued with equal powers of a regular police officer to enforce law and order in Singapore. They wear the same police uniform as police officers as they patrol the streets and participate in public outreach events. Previously headquartered at the Eu Tong Sen Street Police Station and Toa Payoh Police Station, the VSC headquarters relocated to the new Police Cantonment Complex in year 2000.

The VSC was formed in 1946 to augment the slender ranks of police 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 1950, 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, Special Constable Andrew Teo Bock 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 a part time basis. Up to 70% of them were deployed for patrol duties in the divisional police stations, in the marine police, radio and traffic divisions. A small number was attached to the Reserve Unit to help in anti rioting and crowd control. The VSC was renamed SC(V) (or Special Constabulary (Volunteer)), and SC(NS) (or Special Constabulary (National Service)) to reflect the two groups of special constables. Part time Special Constabulary National Service was discontinued in 1981, and the SC(V) reverted to the VSC.

VSC officers wear the same standard blue uniforms as the officers of the Singapore Police Force. They are provided the same walkies talkies, Steel Extendable Baton and Taurus Model 85 firearms as their standard police officer, in order to complement their abilities to support the Singapore Police Force in maintaining law and order in Singapore.

In 1997, the Honorary VSC (School) Scheme was started to train school teachers (usually the discipline masters or operation managers) as police officers. By 2007, 267 volunteer cops from 144 secondary schools in Singapore have been appointed Hon VSCs under this scheme. These teachers don the rank of Inspector or above. However, unlike VSCs, Hon VSCs do not perform police duties with regular officers, but confine their anti crime activities to their own schools. Such activities may include investigations into bullying cases, advising students against committing crimes and liaising with regular police officers at the Neighbourhood Police Centers. Unlike regular VSCs who are volunteers, Hon VSCs in Schools are appointed to carry out their responsibilities as part of their teaching or operations manager professions and do not perform police duties outside of their place of work in the schools.

In 2018, the Singapore Police Force launched a new scheme that officers will undergo a shorter training duration of seven weeks and be required to perform at least eight hours of patrol duty a month. The new VSC (Community) officers will now be deployed to various neighbourhood police posts in all six police divisions to carry out patrols alongside regular police officers. Unlike regular police and VSC officers, the VSC (Community) officers do not carry firearms, but will still have arrest powers and carry batons, handcuffs and communication sets. These officers wear a uniform made up of a blue polo T shirt and black cargo pants. VSC(C) officers serve until 60 years old.