Special Operations Command (Singapore)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Special Operations Command (Abbreviation: SOC; Malay: Pasukan Operasi Khas; Chinese: 特别行动指挥处) is a frontline unit of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) grouping together various specialist units into a single strategic reserve of the regular forces to be called upon in any contingency and serious case of public disorder.

Today, the unit is comprised of:

Unit	Abbreviation	Commanding Officer	Address
Crisis Negotiation Unit	CNU		Queensway Base
Police K-9 Unit	K-9	Seah Thian Pau	2 Mowbray Road
Police MRT Unit	PMU	DSP Ng Bernard	Queensway Base
Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force	PNSF LSF		Queensway Base
Police National Service Key Installation Protection Unit	KINS		Queensway Base
Police Tactical Unit	PTU		Queensway Base
Special Tactics and Rescue	STAR	Law Kok Leong Arthur	Queensway Base

The SOC also provides secretarial support to the United Nations Peace Keeping Force (UNPKF) by pooling together volunteers selected from any unit in the SPF.

[edit] History

The SOC traces its history back to 1952, when an anti-riot squad of 60 police officers was formed in the wake of the Maria Hertogh riots, which broke out in 1950 and demonstrated the incapability of existing measures in containing serious cases of public disorder. The predecessor of what is now the Police Tactical Unit was hence created.

On 10 September 1992, the SOC was formally created to combine the Police Task Force, the Police Tactical Team, and the Police Dog Unit under one command. In 1993, the Special Tactics and Rescue was formed to replace the Police Tactical Team. Greater involvement of Police National Servicemen was seen with the inclusion of the National Servicemen Key Installation Unit in 1994, and the formation of the Police National Service Full-time Light Strike Force in 1998.

In response to changing demands in urban security issues, the Police MRT Unit was formed in 2005 to provide armed security within and around stations and trains on the Mass Rapid Transit network. Pooled from regular and NSF manpower resources, they are the first SOC unit to be formed which involves regular front-line policing from inception.

[edit] Weapons, equipment and vehicles

SOC troopers are typically armed with the MP5K and the MP5N Sub Machine Guns. New weapons introduced from 2004 include the HK 69, a grenade launcher which will replace the existing ARWEN 37. Their handguns will be replaced by the new HK USP Compact pistol, while the Sphinx 3000 pistol will also be introduced.