Internal Security Act 1960 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Miscellaneous Provisions
74. Power to detain suspected persons
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2017.
Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe —
police officer
“police officer” includes an auxiliary police officer and a special police officer appointed in accordance with any written law for the time being in force;
that there are grounds which would justify his detention under section 8; and
that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Singapore or any part thereof.
Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person, who upon being questioned by the officer fails to satisfy the officer as to his identity or as to the purposes for which he is in the place where he is found, and who such officer suspects has acted or is about to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Singapore or any part thereof.
No person shall be detained under this section for a period exceeding 24 hours except with the authority of a police officer of or above the rank of assistant superintendent of police or, subject as hereinafter provided, for a period of 48 hours in all.
If an officer of or above the rank of superintendent of police is satisfied that the necessary enquiries cannot be completed within the period of 48 hours prescribed by subsection (3) he may authorise the further detention of any person detained under this section for an additional period not exceeding 28 days.
Any officer giving any authorisation under subsection (4) shall forthwith report the circumstances thereof to the Commissioner of Police; and where such authorisation authorises detention for any period exceeding 14 days the Commissioner of Police shall forthwith report the circumstances thereof to the Minister.
Commissioner of Police
“Commissioner of Police” includes the Deputy Commissioner of Police and any gazetted police officer for the time being lawfully authorised to exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon the Commissioner of Police by this Act;
The powers of a police officer under subsections (1) and (2) may be exercised by any member of the security forces, and (in the case of a protected place) any authorised officer of that protected place (within the meaning of the Infrastructure Protection Act 2017).
security forces
“security forces” includes the Singapore Police Force, the Special Constabulary, the auxiliary police force, the Singapore Armed Forces, any local forces established under any written law in force in Singapore, and any force which is a visiting force for the purposes of Part 1 of the Visiting Forces Act 1960 and in respect of whom all or any of the powers exercisable by the Singapore Armed Forces or their members under this Act have been made exercisable by an order made under any such law;
Any person detained under the powers conferred by this section shall be deemed to be in lawful custody, and may be detained in any prison, or in any police station, or in any other similar place authorised generally or specially by the Minister.
Minister
“Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for internal security;