They will help even if items are found on private property, says director of ops
By Elizabeth Soh 23 June 2011
The police will respond to all calls for help when war relics are found, whether on public or private property.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Lim Kok Thai, the director of operations, said yesterday the police could have better explained the situation that arose at Sungei Kadut on Monday.
Speaking at a media briefing, he said some online postings and media reports had given the impression that the police do not manage war relics found on private property.
‘I would like to dispel this notion,’ he said. ‘Police make no distinction between private and public property. The fundamental issue is one of public safety.’
The discovery of a 160kg war relic at Sungei Kadut at the weekend had sparked a scramble for the services of a private bomb disposal company.
‘Maybe there was a miscommunication on the ground, and the perception that was conveyed was actually wrong,’ he said. ‘Regardless of public or private, we will respond if a call comes in.’
As to whether the police will look into how the misunderstanding happened, he said: ‘We all admit we could have explained it better. But like all other cases, we have AAR, or after action reviews. From there, we can see what are the learning points, and how we can avoid misunderstandings and move on.’
On Sunday, construction workers at a future furniture warehouse in Sungei Kadut dug up the 160kg bomb. Not knowing what it was, they tried to sell it to the scrap metal yard next door the next day, but the owner recognised it as a war relic.
When the police were called in, they told Mr. Raymond Yap, 64, the assistant manager of LHT Holdings, which owns the warehouse and had leased the Sungei Kadut site from statutory board JTC Corp, that they would not be able to help get rid of it as it was on private property.
Officers gave him the numbers of two private bomb disposal companies. Mr. Yap hired two officers from security management firm Certis Cisco to stand watch over the relic that night. It cost him $600.
On Tuesday, when he was not able to engage either of the two disposal companies, he called the office of Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also Home Affairs Minister, for help.
Later that day, the Singapore Armed Forces’ Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosives Defence Group (CBRE) turned up and removed the relic.
On Tuesday, the police said in a statement that the CBRE, after assessing that the bomb could be safely disposed of by specialist contractors, ‘advised that as the relic was found on private property, the landlord should engage the services of such specialist contractors to do so. Police accordingly conveyed this to the landlord’.
The statement also said that when Mr. Yap could not get hold of a contractor, the police informed CBRE, and a bomb disposal team was subsequently deployed to remove the relic safely.
Mr. Lim said yesterday that the owner of the warehouse has been reimbursed for the cost of engaging extra security guards.
Mr. Yap said: ‘I was under the impression that we would have to foot the bill, so I am glad for the reimbursement. I am just relieved that nothing happened and everyone is okay.’
Mr. Lim explained police protocol when handling war relics.
First, all such cases should be reported immediately to the police. Property owners should not try to remove the relic on their own.
The police would then secure the site and photograph the relic. The pictures would be sent to CBRE to verify if the relic is a threat to public safety.
Officers will remove the relic immediately if it is deemed a threat. If not, the police would usually advise the owner of the property to arrange for its removal with specialist contractors.
Mr. Lim said that if the owners are unwilling or unable to contact the contractors, the police would liaise with CBRE again.
‘The police will remain in charge of the scene to ensure that disposal is effected in a proper manner, and that public safety is not compromised,’ he said.
2 comments:
Police clear the air on handling WW2 relics
They will help even if items are found on private property, says director of ops
By Elizabeth Soh
23 June 2011
The police will respond to all calls for help when war relics are found, whether on public or private property.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Lim Kok Thai, the director of operations, said yesterday the police could have better explained the situation that arose at Sungei Kadut on Monday.
Speaking at a media briefing, he said some online postings and media reports had given the impression that the police do not manage war relics found on private property.
‘I would like to dispel this notion,’ he said. ‘Police make no distinction between private and public property. The fundamental issue is one of public safety.’
The discovery of a 160kg war relic at Sungei Kadut at the weekend had sparked a scramble for the services of a private bomb disposal company.
‘Maybe there was a miscommunication on the ground, and the perception that was conveyed was actually wrong,’ he said. ‘Regardless of public or private, we will respond if a call comes in.’
As to whether the police will look into how the misunderstanding happened, he said: ‘We all admit we could have explained it better. But like all other cases, we have AAR, or after action reviews. From there, we can see what are the learning points, and how we can avoid misunderstandings and move on.’
On Sunday, construction workers at a future furniture warehouse in Sungei Kadut dug up the 160kg bomb. Not knowing what it was, they tried to sell it to the scrap metal yard next door the next day, but the owner recognised it as a war relic.
When the police were called in, they told Mr. Raymond Yap, 64, the assistant manager of LHT Holdings, which owns the warehouse and had leased the Sungei Kadut site from statutory board JTC Corp, that they would not be able to help get rid of it as it was on private property.
Officers gave him the numbers of two private bomb disposal companies. Mr. Yap hired two officers from security management firm Certis Cisco to stand watch over the relic that night. It cost him $600.
On Tuesday, when he was not able to engage either of the two disposal companies, he called the office of Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also Home Affairs Minister, for help.
Later that day, the Singapore Armed Forces’ Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosives Defence Group (CBRE) turned up and removed the relic.
On Tuesday, the police said in a statement that the CBRE, after assessing that the bomb could be safely disposed of by specialist contractors, ‘advised that as the relic was found on private property, the landlord should engage the services of such specialist contractors to do so. Police accordingly conveyed this to the landlord’.
The statement also said that when Mr. Yap could not get hold of a contractor, the police informed CBRE, and a bomb disposal team was subsequently deployed to remove the relic safely.
Mr. Lim said yesterday that the owner of the warehouse has been reimbursed for the cost of engaging extra security guards.
Mr. Yap said: ‘I was under the impression that we would have to foot the bill, so I am glad for the reimbursement. I am just relieved that nothing happened and everyone is okay.’
Mr. Lim explained police protocol when handling war relics.
First, all such cases should be reported immediately to the police. Property owners should not try to remove the relic on their own.
The police would then secure the site and photograph the relic. The pictures would be sent to CBRE to verify if the relic is a threat to public safety.
Officers will remove the relic immediately if it is deemed a threat. If not, the police would usually advise the owner of the property to arrange for its removal with specialist contractors.
Mr. Lim said that if the owners are unwilling or unable to contact the contractors, the police would liaise with CBRE again.
‘The police will remain in charge of the scene to ensure that disposal is effected in a proper manner, and that public safety is not compromised,’ he said.
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