PM Wong (middle) with Minister for Home Affairs and then-Minister for Law Mr K Shanmugam (fourth from right), SPF Acting Commissioner How Kwang Hwee (fourth from left), SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap (third from right) and Home Team officers.
PM Wong met Home Team National Service officers and got a firsthand look at the latest operational technologies during his visit to the joint Home Team facility in Punggol.
Prime Minister (PM) and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong visited the co-located Punggol Neighbourhood Police Centre and Punggol Fire Station on 4 April 2025 — his first official visit to Home Team frontline units since taking office as the Head of Government.
Accompanied by Minister for Home Affairs and then-Minister for Law Mr K Shanmugam, SPF Acting Commissioner How Kwang Hwee, and SCDF Commissioner Eric Yap, PM Wong engaged with 30 National Service (NS) officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
During the visit, PM Wong was also briefed on some of the latest training and operational capabilities of SPF and SCDF.
The SPF’s counter-drone capabilities include the use of the Radio Frequency-based Jammer Gun, a device jointly developed by the SPF and the Home Team Science and Technology Agency. This system can disrupt the control signals of unauthorised drones, allowing for safe neutralisation and retrieval of the devices for further investigation.
The SPF’s Next-Generation Fast Response Car (NGFRC) represents a leap forward in policing technology, with key features such as the Integrated Vehicular Dashboard and the Automated Number Plate Recognition System.
The Integrated Vehicular Dashboard acts as a central command hub, enabling officers to manage all onboard technologies through a single interface. The Automated Number Plate Recognition System scans for vehicles of interest, allowing officers to focus on other critical tasks. Both features are supported by live video streaming to provide real-time updates to the Police Operations Command Centre.
The SCDF’s Smart Classroom enhances training for Fire Station personnel through digital tools and immersive technology. In addition to interactive screens for remote learning, the system includes the Road Traffic Accident (RTA) Extended Reality (XR) training simulator, which sharpens rescue skills while reducing the need for full-scale training setups.
Donning a virtual reality headset and handling physical tools like a hydraulic spreader and cutter, trainees perform realistic rescue actions that are mirrored in the virtual world. The experience is enhanced by a Multi-Sensory Augmented Virtuality Suit, which simulates environmental elements such as the scent of smoke and the sensation of heat.
To boost survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, the SCDF introduced the team-based High-Performance Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (HPCPR) approach in 2019. During an incident, each responder takes on a defined role — from Automated External Defibrillator operation to ventilation and rotating compressions — ensuring a fast and coordinated response.
By improving the quality of CPR and the survivability of patients, HPCPR reflects the SCDF’s commitment to high-quality pre-hospital care.
The Electric Pump Ladder (E-PL) is Southeast Asia’s first fully electric firefighting vehicle. The next-generation Class 4 appliance carries 2,000 litres (l) of water and 400l of foam, and can travel up to 600 kilometres on electric power and an energy backup unit.
Designed with frontline operations in mind, the E-PL features a spacious cabin, front swivel seats for better crew interaction, and a height-adjustable chassis that allows quicker entry and exit. Its compact frame and all-wheel steering — including a “crab steering” mode for diagonal movement — make it highly manoeuvrable in tight urban spaces. The vehicle is also equipped with a remotely-controlled firefighting robot, the Modular Firefighting Machine.
The Home Team currently comprises over 43,000 operationally ready NS officers and more than 7,000 full-time NS officers serving across the SPF and SCDF. Their enhanced roles reflect the Home Team’s commitment to maintaining operational readiness amid a dynamic and evolving security landscape.
PM Wong’s visit not only underscored the Home Team’s vital role in safeguarding Singapore, but also reaffirmed the Government’s support for NS officers who balance family, work, and national service in their mission to protect the nation.
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