Singapore Police Force

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Singapore Police Force
Image:SPF.jpg
Established 1819
Jurisdiction National
Sworn 37341
CSO 1,246
Stations 97
Police boats 61
Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui
The Jurong Police Division Headquarters at Jurong West Avenue 5. The Singapore Police Force crest is prominently displayed.
The Jurong Police Division Headquarters at Jurong West Avenue 5. The Singapore Police Force crest is prominently displayed.

The Singapore Police Force (Abbreviation: SPF; Chinese: 新加坡警察部队; Malay: Pasukan Polis Singapura) is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state[1]. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police (Abbreviation: RSP; Malay: Polis Republik Singapura), it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force. It enjoys a relatively positive public image,[2] and is credited for helping to arrest Singapore's civic unrests and lawlessness in its early years, and maintaining the low crime rate today.[3]

The organisation structure of the SPF is split between the staff and line functions, roughly modelled after the military[1]. There are currently 15 staff departments and 13 line units. The headquarters is located in a block at New Phoenix Park in Novena, adjacent to a twin block occupied by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early years

The Singapore Police Force has a heritage almost as old as that of modern Singapore, having been formed in 1819 with a skeleton force of 11 men under the command of Francis James Bernard, son-in-law of William Farquhar, and kept in operation with a monthly budget of $300. Manpower constraints meant that the men had to perform a wide range of roles, and required the help of headmen amongst the various ethnic communities to maintain orderliness on the streets, all the more possible as the communities lived in segregated areas around the city.

This partnership with the community was in line with Sir Stamford Raffles' vision of a thriving colony largely self-regulated by local social structures, with the British masters administrating it via indirect rule. The large influx of migrants from China, however, began to test this system when the hands-off approach by the British allowed secret societies in Singapore to thrive. Although originally formed with legal intentions of community bonding and the provision of assistance to fellow migrants, these societies gradually became influential, competitive, and increasingly engaged in illegal activity including monetary extortion from the masses, the operation of gambling dens, and the smuggling of illegal goods on top of more legal commercial operations to meet their financial needs.

Competition gradually heated up between large rival factions, such as that between the larger Ghee Hin Kongsi, the Ghee Hock Kongsi and the Han San Kongsi. Murders, mass riots, kidnappings, arson and other serious crimes became commonplace in the next four decades since the colony's founding. Faced with violent acts of crime which may involve thousands, such as the funeral riots of 1846 involving 9,000 members from the Ghee Hin and Ghee Hock secret societies, the police force was woefully incapable of bringing the situation under control, and often had to call in the army for assistance. The escalating number of serious crimes prompted the need for stronger legislation to deter would-be criminals. Singapore's first executions were thus held in the wake of the first criminal session in June 1828, when a Chinese and Indian were found guilty and convicted for murder.

Headed by Europeans and predominantly staffed by Malay and Indian officers, the force had little Chinese representation as the military and policing professionals were traditionally shunned by the Chinese community, which therefore impaired policing efforts amongst the large Chinese populace. In 1843, the force comprised a sitting magistrate doubling up as a superintendent, three European constables and an assistant native constable, 14 officers and 110 policemen. With a total strength of no more than 150 men, the police was compelled to avoid direct intervention in these mass acts of violence, else risking almost total annihilation.

A repeat of this scenario occurred in 1851, when lingering displeasure against Roman Catholic ethnic Chinese erupted into major rioting leaving over 500 Chinese dead. The army was called in again, although it involved having to induct Indian convicts into military service almost overnight. In 1854, twelve consecutive days of violence sparked by a dispute between the Hokkiens and Teochews disrupted trade. This particular incident led to the formation of the military's Singapore Rifle Corps on 8 July 1854, the earliest predecessor of the Singapore Armed Forces' People's Defence Force today.

Criminal violence was not merely in the domain of the ethnic Chinese, however. Rivalries between Malay princes and communities also often result in acts of violence, which prompted the passing of Singapore's first arms law in March 1823 restricting the right to bear arms to 24 of the Malay Sultan's followers. Nearly two centuries later, these anti-arms laws continue to be strictly enforced, resulting in a society relatively free from firearms-related criminal offences.

[edit] Incidents

[edit] Heritage

[edit] Police Pledge

We pledge to be loyal and true to the Police service and the Republic of Singapore.

We pledge to uphold the law, to protect life and property, to prevent and detect crime.

We pledge to discharge our responsibilities without fear or favour, regardless of race, language or religion.

We pledge to strive for excellence, to be proactive and to exercise initiative in our duties.

We pledge to serve our community and our country and to be courteous and humane in our dealings with every fellowman.

[edit] Organisation structure

[edit] Police Headquarters

Appointment Rank Abbreviation Name Address
Commissioner of Police Commissioner of Police CP Khoo Boon Hui New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Deputy Commissioner of Police Deputy Commissioner of Police DC Goh Liang Kwang New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Director (Special Duties) Senior Assistant Commissioner SAC Vacant New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Chief of Staff Senior Assistant Commissioner SAC Soh Wai Wah New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Quality Service Manager Assistant Commissioner DAC Anselm Lopez New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road

[edit] Staff departments

Department Abbreviation Director Address
Administration and Finance Department A&F DAC Koh Yan Hong New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Commercial Affairs Department CAD Mr. Tan Siong Thye Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road Block D
Criminal Investigation Department CID SAC Lock Wai Han Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road Block C
Manpower Department MPD AC Ng Boon Gay New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Operations Department OPS AC Wong Hong Kuan New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Planning and Organisation Department P&O SAC Ang Hak Seng New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Police Custodial Department PCD AC Jarmal Singh New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Police Intelligence Department PID SAC Hoong Wee Teck New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Police Logistics Department PLD DAC Kuldip Singh New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Police National Service Department PNSD AC Tan Ngo Chew Old Police Academy, 1 Mount Pleasant Road Block 2A
Police Technology Department PTD MR Kan Siew Ning New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Public Affairs Department PAD DAC Ng Guat Ting New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Security Industry Regulatory Department SIRD SUPT Lim Chin Tiak New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Service Development and Inspectorate Department SDI DAC Anselm Lopez New Phoenix Park, 28 Irrawaddy Road
Volunteer Special Constabulary VSC DAC (V) S Lakshmanan Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road Block C
Traffic Police Department TP DAC Christopher Ng 10 Ubi Avenue 3
Training Command TRACOM DAC Loy Chye Meng Home Team Academy, 501 Old Choa Chu Kang Road

[edit] Line units

Line units Abbreviation Commander Address
Ang Mo Kio Police Division 'F' Division SUPT Lee Chin Ek 51 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9
Bedok Police Division 'G' Division DAC Lim Kok Thai 30 Bedok North Road
Central Police Division 'A' Division AC Khoo Peng Ann Raymond Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road
Clementi Police Division 'D' Division SUPT Ng Kin Hian Anthony 20 Clementi Avenue 5
Jurong Police Division 'J' Division DAC Cheang Keng Keong 2 Jurong West Avenue 5
Tanglin Police Division 'E' Division SUPT Paul Lim Choon Wui 21 Kampong Java Road
Airport Police AP SUPT Teo Chun Ching 35 Airport Boulevard
Gurkha Contingent GC DAC Ross Forman Mount Vernon Camp
Police Coast Guard PCG AC Teo Kian Teck 11 Brani Way
Security Command SecCom SUPT Tan Hung Hooi 2 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh (Old Toa Payoh Police Station)
Special Operations Command SOC DAC Raymond Yeo Queensway Base

[edit] Finances

The Singapore Police Force receives the highest budget allocation annually compared to the various departments of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), regularly accounting for about 50% ot its annual budget. For the financial year 2006 (for the year beginning 1 April 2006), S$2.27 billion was budgeted to the MHA, of which 52.8%, or S$1.28 billion was allocated for the Police Programme[4]. Actual expenses in the 2006 financial year was S$1.33 billion, of which S$1.14 billion was spent on operating expenditure (against the budgeted S$1.10 billion) and S$188.28 million on development expenditure (budgeted at $171.52 million). Manpower costs amounting to S$709.11 million continue to dominate the SPF's expenditure, accounting for 62.2% of its operating expenditure and 53.4% of total expenditure in FY2006.

Year ended Operating Expenditure Development Expenditure Total Expenditure
Other Operating
(millions)
Manpower
(millions)
Total
(millions)
Budgeted Total
(millions)
Budgeted Total
(millions)
Budgeted
31 March 2004 325.61 636.47 962.08 142.14 1,104.22
31 March 2005 325.27 655.56 980.83 214.83 1,195.66
31 March 2006[5] 343.11 668.62 1011.73 948,615,140 267.74 246,085,700 1,279.47 1,194,700,840
31 March 2007[6] 431.13 709.11 1,140.24 1,103,597,000 188.28 171,522,700 1,328.52 1,275,119,700
31 March 2008[7] - - - 1,218,736,370 - 69,353,000 - 1,288,089,370
31 March 2009[8] - - - 1,246,301,000 - 129,985,000 - 1,376,286,000

The latest budget for financial year 2008, S$1.38 billion was allocated to the Police Programme, or 47.2% of MHA's total budget of S$2.91 billion[9] (The Ministry of Defence, in comparison, receives a S$10.08 billion budget allocation[10]). This includes S$1.25 billion for Operating expenditure and $129.99 million for Development Expenditure. The main Development Expenditures expected in FY2008 included the installation of an electronic surveillance system, the building of an Integrated Tactical Training Centre and procurement of new Coastal Patrol Crafts for the Police Coast Guard.

[edit] Manpower

As at 31 March 2006, the total strength of the force stands at 34,397, of which 12,496 are full-time staff. Manpower trends in recent years are as follows:

Year ended Regulars Civilians PNSF PNSmen VSC Total
31 March 2003 7,791 1,210 3,664 21,843 1,020 35,528
31 March 2004 8,035 1,238 4,104 22,311 1,098 36,786
31 March 2005 8,001 1,255 3,958 23,461 1,164 37,839
31 March 2006 7,949 1,246 3,861 24,349 1,182 38,587
31 March 2007 7,826 1,206 3,464 20,852 1,049 34,397

The full-time uniformed officers are predominantly male, accounting for about 87% of total full-time strength. This is in part due to the all-male profile of PNSFs, although the ratio of female regular officers has been steadily increasing over the years. The force is also dominated by younger officers. Besides the presence of PNSFs who usually serve up to two years typically from age 18, there is also a relatively high turnover rate amongst regular officers.

[edit] Regulars

Regulars, or uniformed, full-time officers, constitute about 20% of the police's total workforce.

[edit] Police national servicemen

While national service was introduced in 1967 in Singapore, it was solely geared towards the building up of the Singapore Armed Forces. There was little urgency in the police force to increase its manpower strength until the Laju incident in 1974 demonstrated the need for additional trained reserve officers who can be called up at short notice in the event of an emergency. National service was thus extended to the Singapore Police Force in 1975, with the primary aim of guarding key installations and to act as a reserve unit. Subsequent expansion of the scheme, changing security needs, and the trend in outsourcing installation protection (such as to the Auxiliary Police Forces) has expanded their role to more functions, which may range from administration, investigation to front-line policing alongside their regular counterparts.

[edit] Volunteers

[edit] Civilian staff

Civilian staff in the Police Force are deployed in areas such as technology, logistics, human resource and administrative and finance services as well as planning and intelligence. The civilian staff schemes falls under the general civil service schemes managed by the Public Service Division. These schemes include:

  • Management Executive Scheme(MX) for degree holders
    • Home Affairs Senior Executive (HASE)
  • Corporate Support Scheme (CS) for diploma and below
    • Technical Support Officer
    • Corporate Support Officer

The civilization of non-core police functions have accelerated over the years in order to free up additional manpower for redeployment into Police Divisions. Other changes include the deployment of contract staff through organizations such as Ministry of Finance's VITAL.org for administrative staff and partners such as Singapore Technologies, CSA Singapore for technical support.

[edit] Staff Welfare

[edit] Uniforms

Police National Service officers contribute to security coverage requirements at the National Day Parade, 2004. Shown left is a full-time serviceman, and he is accompanied at right by a Police National Serviceman (reservist), both in the current SPF uniform.
Police National Service officers contribute to security coverage requirements at the National Day Parade, 2004. Shown left is a full-time serviceman, and he is accompanied at right by a Police National Serviceman (reservist), both in the current SPF uniform.

Dark blue (or more accurately Dacron blue) is the organisational colour of the Singapore Police Force, and has remained so continuously since 1969, although the first police uniforms introduced in 1856 were also in the same colour.

In 1969, dacron blue made a comeback to the uniform with a force-wide change away from khaki. The new uniform comprises a dark blue peak cap, shirt, trousers, black belt, shoes and socks, and coded whistle lanyard in blue and white. 3 large and 4 small metal buttons, metal collar badges, and a metal cap badge are affixed, and a black plastic name tag completes the uniform. Metallic ranks, if any, are fixed to the sleeve or on the shoulders for senior officers. The lanyard was changed to a metal chain in 1972, and in 1985, the material of the uniform was changed from 75% polyester 25% cotton to 100% polyester for a smarter bearing and turnout.

Derivatives of the standard blue uniform (collectively called the no.3 uniform) was adopted for specialised forces and for all officers in various occasions which calls for more formal or casual attire. The Traffic Police Department was amongst the few to move away from the all-blue attire, adopting a short-sleeved white tunic, dark blue breeches, a black leather Sam Browne belt, and riding boots for its officers performing mobile squad duties. A white crash helmet is worn when on the move, while a new dark blue jockey cap with chequered white and dark blue patterns around its circumference is worn when convenient while performing static duty. Members of the Vigilante Corps are also attired by a white short-sleeved top similar in design to the dark blue version for normal officers, gold-coloured buttons and badges, and a dark blue beret in place of the peak cap.

Combat uniforms has also been adopted for specialist units such as those from the Special Operations Command and the Police Coast Guard (PCG), collectively known as the No.4 uniforms. These involve the replacement of metal buttons with sewn-on plastic ones, the avoidance of all other metallic accruements which are deemed potentially hazardous to the officer or to others and the use of long-sleeved shirts. SOC officers wear combat boots while officers in PCG use lace up leather shoes with non-slip soles. These units also tend to adopt the beret as their headgear, although PCG officers use the baseball cap while on operational duties.

There was no major change to the uniform since then, except for the adoption of embroidered shoulder ranks and badges for all ranks in the 1990s. Other changes are less distinct, such as the upgrading of shoes used, the change of the belt material and belt buckle to one including the police crest, and changes to the peak cap to a more durable and ventilated version.

Police Tactical Unit officers on patrol during the Shangri-La Dialogue on 1 June 2007, sporting new uniforms and the signature red berets.
Police Tactical Unit officers on patrol during the Shangri-La Dialogue on 1 June 2007, sporting new uniforms and the signature red berets.

[edit] Ranks

A standard rank structure is used throughout the police force, although some ranks may be unique to specific organisations. These ranks are denoted where applicable in the following list, which lists them in ascending seniority:

[edit] Police officers

The rank of Corporal was abolished in 1972, but reinstated in 1976. In 1997, all ranks were shifted from the sleeves to the epaulettes, except for the Gurkha Contingent. Also in the same year, the Station Inspector rank was changed from collar pips to epaulettes with a new design similar to that of the SAF Warrant Officers, and the rank of Senior Station Inspector was introduced. In 1998, the Senior Station Inspector (2) rank was introduced, and changes were made to the SI, SSI, and SSI(2) rank designs. The rank of Lance Corporal was abolished in 2002[11]. The 2006, the Gurkha Contingent adopted embroidered ranks as part of an overhaul of its combat dress, but are worn on the right front pocket.[2]

Rank Abbreviation Trainee Regular NSF NSmen VSC Gurkha
Constable PC T/PC NA NA PC PC PC
Special Constable SC T/SC NA SC NA NA NA
Lance Corporal LCP NA NA NA NA NA NA
Corporal CPL T/CPL CPL SC/CPL CPL (NS) CPL (V) CPL
Sergeant SGT T/SGT SGT SC/SGT SGT (NS) SGT (V) SGT
Staff Sergeant SSGT NA SSGT SC/SSGT SSGT (NS) SSGT (V) SSGT
Senior Staff Sergeant SSSGT NA SSSGT NA SSSGT (NS) SSSGT (V) SSSGT
Station Inspector SI NA SI NA SI (NS) SI (V) SI
Senior Station Inspector SSI NA SSI NA SSI (NS) SSI (V) NA
Senior Station Inspector (2) SSI (2) NA SSI (2) NA SSI(2) (NS) NA NA

[edit] Senior police officers

Rank Abbreviation Trainee Regular NSF NSmen VSC Gurkha
Inspector INSP OCT(NSF)
P/INSP
INSP NSPI
NSI
INSP (NS) INSP (V)
Chief Inspector NA NA NA NA NA NA C/INSP
Assistant Superintendent ASP P/ASP ASP ASP (NS) ASP (NS) ASP (V) ASP
Deputy Superintendent DSP NA DSP NA DSP (NS) DSP (V) DSP
Superintendent SUPT NA SUPT NA SUPT (NS) SUPT(V) SUPT
Deputy Assistant Commissioner DAC NA DAC NA NA DAC (V) DAC
Assistant Commissioner AC NA AC NA NA NA AC
Senior Assistant Commissioner SAC NA SAC NA NA NA NA
Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP/DC NA DCP NA NA NA NA
Commissioner of Police CP NA CP NA NA NA NA

[edit] Weapons and equipment

Police officers in the various divisions are armed when conducting regular uniformed patrols and plainclothes duties. A force-wide change from the Smith & Wesson .38 revolver to the Taurus Model 85 was undertaken in August 2002, featuring a laser sight and a new snatch-resistant holster. A new speedloader was introduced in the same year to replace the old bullet pouch, allowing for quicker reloading of the revolvers and reducing the likelihood of misplaced bullets. In 2001, the Monadnock PR-21 side handle baton (more commonly known as the T-baton) replaced the wooden batons and retractable nightsticks to enhance their defensive capabilities. In addition, each officer is issued with one pair of handcuffs.

The primary communication tool carried by each officer is through a digital radio set provided by Matra Nortel Communications[12], the same provider for other Home Team organisations such as the Singapore Civil Defence Force. A trial of individual palmtops (called mPOD), developed from the Hewlett-Packard Jornada 928, which allows officers to screen persons and vehicles on the go without having to rely on radio communication. There are currently no plans to roll out the mPOD forcewide as the results of the trial were not considered favourable.

Also currently on trial by officers from Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre and Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre is the Taser X26 stun gun, which provides another non-lethal means of subduing suspects. Despite some safety concerns due to incidents experienced by foreign police forces, the weapon was deemed suitable for use by trained personnel, and was rolled out in phases across other NPCs[13].

Strict enforcement of anti-arm laws which are in existence in Singapore since 1823 has resulted in a relatively gun-free society, where firearms-related crimes are rare. It is therefore not an operational requirement for police officers to don bulletproof vests when conducting normal policing duties. However, these vests are carried in police vehicles and stocked in police establishments and can be rapidly utilised should the situation requires it. From 2004, new multi-purpose vests were introduced which offer the officer protection against most handgun fire, knife thrusts, as well as doubling up as a buoyancy vests should the officer fall into deep water.

In 2006, the Singapore Police Force acquired new firearms for the Special Operations Command, namely the Sphinx 3000 pistol. Prior to this, the standard issue for the SOC was the Sig Sauer P226 pistol, also operated by the Singapore Armed Forces. Glock 19 and Heckler & Koch USP pistols are also known to be used by Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR), Security Command and the Police Coast Guard's Special Task Squadron.

[edit] Vehicles

A Land Rover Defender outside Raffles Hotel.
A Land Rover Defender outside Raffles Hotel.

Land division officers typically respond to calls in rapid-deployment vehicles known as the Fast Response Car (FRC). The SPF have been staunch users of Japanese-made saloon cars since the 1980s for patrol duties, with the mainstay models in use being the various generations of the Mitsubishi Lancers, Mazda 323s and Toyota Corollas. At the turn of the century they have also included Nissan Sunnys, and most recently acquired Subaru Impreza 1.6 TS sedans (not to be confused with the Subaru Impreza WRX used by the Traffic Police). All FRCs carry a large array of equipment to allow officers to conduct normal policing duties and basic investigative work which officers are expected to perform with the implementation of the Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) system. A typical FRC vehicle may therefore stock equipment for the force-opening of locked doors, conducting roadblocks, fingerprint collection, and the provision of first aid. On top of these, chemical agent protection equipment and bulletproof vests are also carried for the officer's protection.

In 2002, the Enhanced Patrol Vehicle Project was unveiled at the SPF's annual workplan seminar to highlight the need for off-road capability. The Volvo V70 AWD XC, Mitsubishi Space Wagon and Mitsubishi Chariot underwent evaluation in various NPCs. Eventually, all NPCs were to have at least three of such vehicles, but the project was met with skepticism by some of the public, stating that the police need not use such "luxurious vehicles" for police patrols. In 2004, the new Fast Response Vehicle (FRV) was introduced, consisting of cheaper modified Toyota Hi-Lux sport utility vehicles. These vehicles utilise diesel-power which provide greater ability to endure high usage on the roads over extensive periods of time. Their bigger storage space also allows for easier storage and retrieval of equipment.

Other vehicles typically used in NPCs include the scooters and vans. Bicycles, although currently less seen, are still used by land division officers occasionally, particularly when conducting routine patrols in large, sprawling private housing estates. At NDP 2007, the Singapore Police Force unveiled a Tenix S600 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) had been purchased for its operations for the Special Operations Command.

For weaponry, equipment and vehicles of the various specialist forces, please see their respective pages for details.

[edit] Auxiliary Police Forces

[edit] Defunct Units/Facilities

[edit] Land Divisions

[edit] Police Coast Guard

[edit] In popular culture

Books

  • In the service of the nation, 1985
  • 999: True Cases from the CID, 1987
  • Service to the Nation: 50 years of the Volunteer Special Constabulary, 1998
  • Policing Singapore in the 19th & 20th centuries, 2002
  • Justice is Done, 2005
  • The Adventures of Constable Acai, 1987: A series of crime stories, based on actual crimes from police files were compiled into story books from the popular children's magazine Young Generation, about the adventures of a fictional policeman named Constable Acai. They were written by officers from the Crime Prevention Department to instill crime awareness in children during the 80's through to the mid 90's. The other books in this series are as below:
  • More Adventures of Constable Acai, 1989
  • Constable Acai Fights Crime, 1996

Novels

  • Operation Firestorm, 1997

Periodicals

  • Singapore Police Magazine
  • Police Life, 1971 to present
  • Police Life Annual

Non-Fictional Television programs

Fictional Television programs

Movies

  • The Last Blood (驚天十二小時), 1991
  • 2000 AD (公元2000), 1999[14]
  • After School (放学后), 2004: A film released by the National Crime Prevention Council to harness the power of cinema as a public education tool to reach out to young Singaporeans and their families.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  • "In the Service of the Nation", John Drysdale, Federal Publications, 1985 ISBN 9971-4-0703-5
  • "Phoenix: the story of the Home Team ", Felix Soh, Times Editions, 2003 ISBN 981-232-637-5
  • "Policing Singapore in the 19th & 20th centuries", Peer M. Akbur, Singapore Police Force, 2002 ISBN 981-04-7024-X
  • "Singapore Police Force Annual", Singapore Police Force, several editions

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links