FACTSHEET
Background of the CSSP
Community self-help and mutual support strengthen social cohesion, and create a more resilient community. This notion of self-help reinforces the idea that residents themselves can be the most important change agents in society.
2 Before the launch of the Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP), the Neighbourhood Watch Zone (NWZ) Scheme was implemented to encourage mutual care and support in the community through residents watching out for one another’s premises, and dissemination of crime prevention messages. This scheme led to the development of networks of resident volunteers in each to partner the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in the fight against crime. As of May 2007, there were a total of 615 Neighbourhood Watch Zones with over 4,600 volunteers
3 The SPF started on the re-design of the Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs) to enhance community involvement and responsibility beyond enforcement-based solutions by leveraging on the involvement and sense of ownership of residents living in the community. This led to the start of a community-focused policing model of policing. In this new model, the focus was entirely on the community. The new Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs) was introduced to provide total solutions to the community’s safety and security needs based on the goodwill and trust that the Police had gained through community policing
4 The Community Focus Plan (CFP) was introduced to co-ordinate the efforts and initiatives of the communities in looking after their own safety and security issues. It was a proactive approach to draw up and implement joint Community-Police projects and activities to address the law and order concerns of the community. The CFP was co-developed with the Community Development Councils (CDCs). It was endorsed by the CDC Mayors and Chairmen during the inaugural CDC Steering Committee on 12 February 1998. The CFP provided a framework for the CDCs and Home Team to jointly engage and mobilise the community in taking responsibility for its own needs. The strength of CFP was its ability to leverage on the strong network and working relationship between the grassroots agencies and SPF.
5 Safety, security and community well-being are at the heart of each community and these are the key cornerstones of promoting the spirit of self-help and mutual support. CFP helped to:
- Foster community cohesion among local grassroots leaders and residents
- Create opportunities for people to solve community problems as a group
- Allow residents to live harmoniously in a safer and more secure environment
6 The CFP was subsequently renamed Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP) on 8 May 1999 to better reflect its focus and facilitate understanding of residents on the initiative.
7 “The key message to the community is this: You've got a stake in the safety and security of the area where you live in."
- DPM and Minister for Home Affairs, Wong Kan Seng, from the book "Phoenix: the Story of the Home Team" by Felix Soh, 2003.
8 “Ground level initiatives are the principal source of the CSSP’s strength and effectiveness. It is not difficult to get involved in CSSP. It starts with a small step taken by like-minded people to improve their own living environment. Over time, bonds are forged and you learn to tap on each other’s experience and expertise, picking up useful life skills along the way… No one is too young, or too old to play a part; no effort too small.”
-SMS, A/Prof Ho Peng Kee, at the National CSSP Award, 2008.
The National CSSP Awards 2009
9 The National CSSP Awards was instituted in 2003 to recognise the most outstanding CSSP initiatives on a nationwide basis to encourage greater community participation in the CSSP. The following are the winners for 2009 (in no particular order of merit).
The National CSSP Awards Recipients for 2009
Constituency Category
· Community Emergency Preparedness Begins with Multi-racial & Religious Food Rationing (Queenstown CDEC)
· The Henderson Heartbeat (Tanglin-Cairnhill Constituency)
· Cyberangels (Yew Tee Constituency)
· Project Unity (Tiong Bahru CCC, Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng CCC, Tajong Pagar CCC, Radin Mas CCC)
· Unlicensed Moneylender Intervention Project (Clementi CCC, West Coast CCC and Bukit Timah CCC).
· Crime Awareness OutReach (CARe) for the Elderly (Aljunied GRC)
· PNSMen Readily On Watch, Lookout! (PROWL) (22 Constituencies under ‘F’ Division, SPF:Kebun Baru, Yio Chu Kang, Cheng San-Seletar, Teck Ghee, Aljunied-Hougang, Bedok Reservior –Punggol, Hougang, Paya Lebar, Punggol South, Canberra, Sembawang, Punggol Central, Punggol North, Sengkang West, Braddell Heights, Jalan Kayu, Serangoon , Chong Pang, Nee Soon East, Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon South)
· Project Reach Out (Taman Jurong CCC)
· The CEP Plus Project (AngMo Kio GRC, Yio Chu Kang SMC)
· P.U.R.E. Community at Geylang Serai (Geylang Serai CCC, Geylang Serai CDEC)
· Kampong Glam Emergency Bag (Kampong Glam CDEC)
· Emergency Evacuation Exercise For Disabled Persons & Senior Citizens (Tampines West CCC, CDEC)
Schools/ Youth Category
· Neighborhood Youth Development Programme (NYDP) 2008– “Nurturing Youths for Society” (Assumption English Secondary School, Chestnut Drive Secondary School, Fajar Secondary School, Greenridge Secondary School, West Spring Secondary School, Zhenghua Secondary School)
· Homefront Security Ambassador Camp (Victoria Secondary School, Bedok South Secondary School, Temasek Secondary School, Chai Chee Secondary School, Ping Yi Secondary School)
· Going to the Community (JurongJunior College Public Education Effort)
· FirstToaPayohSecondary School Emergency Response Team
Open Category
· Youth Enrichment Programme (YEP)- Anti-Drug Workshop (Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP))
· Total Defence @ Singapore Discovery Centre (SAF, SPF, SCDF, National Heritage Council and Singapore Discovery Centre)
· i ³ Shop (Ang Mo Kio Hub, Ang Mo Kio South NPC, Ang Mo Kio North NPC)
· “Our Crossroads”- Yellow Ribbon Journey Exhibition (MCYS, Singapore Prison Service, SCORE, ISCOS, SACA, SANA, NCSS, NCPC, NLB, Hans Art Gallere
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