Neighborhood Police (NPC) Centre for Sengkang is utilizing social media for community reach out. The team at Sengkang created memes as well as videos that garnered over 16,000 likes for the Facebook page, highest of all 35 NPCs in whole of Singapore. The online effort for outreach enabled NPC to solve unheard cases. An example is a neighborhood “bully” roaming Sengkang. NPC officers for Sengkang first received one private message on its page on Facebook detailing one teenage boy cycling around recklessly and harassing pedestrians. The truth was beyond expectation as the boy had been autistic and the family is in dire financial status. NPC officers assisted by linking the family with Social Development Ministry and Mental Health Institute as well as Family Centre located in Sengkang.
The boy's condition improved thereafter, and complaints were nonexistent. Inspector Kevin, deputy person in charge for the Policing Unit (CPU) had been actively monitoring social media information and conducting roadshows and talks at school assembly. NPC is constantly on alert to contain situation from spiraling out of control, referring specifically on the incident involving the autistic boy. The team reached out for the residents for more details and managed to find out the boy's special needs. The team worked tirelessly to seek information from the father by explaining the whole situation and feedback on the son, and managed to convince the father to open up about the son's autism conditions which may cause the son to act violently. It is then that they found out the family also needed financial assistance. The team coordinated efforts to raise fund from financial aids and medical subsidies. They helped the mother secure a job as well. 6 officers from CPU received PS21 Star Award for Team Service during the Public Service Excellence Awards Ceremony. Officers were happy to see improvement on the boy and the family. CPU always looks out for solutions for long term.
Facebook page posting feed for suspect's images has contributed the nailing of offenders. Some surrendered voluntarily while many came to offer vital information on the suspect's whereabouts. NPC attributed the victories as being active around social media platforms. A total of six strong members are responsible for monitoring Facebook page posting every day. Memes as well as creative videos are created to attract higher amount of viewers. The Facebook profile page has come a long way since being set up on December 2012, with only 2,000 likes. The five times increase in likes can be attributed to the CPU team's effort to create entertaining yet insightful materials. The contents are all modern and resonate with current pop-culture. The page is constantly updated once in few days. Unique materials are posted for every updates.
More people, especially Sengkang residents have been approaching CPU to divulge information due to the page on Facebook. There was a particular case where a man insulted a women, and a civic minded resident provided information to NPC when the rude man's photos was published on Facebook. The suspect knew his picture was exposed online, hence decided to give in voluntarily after two days. Stern warning was provided to the man. Another case involved illegal usage of stranger's ATM card to withdraw money. The illegal act was committed by a woman. CCTV footage revealed an accomplice, which is also another woman during the taking place of the crime. The culprits surrendered almost immediately after catching wind that their photos were published on NPC's Facebook profile page. Another case was a theft occurring at a grocery shop where a thief stole groceries from the store. Similar to the previous cases, the suspect's photos were uploaded to the Facebook profile page, with the source being taken from CCTV footage. The neighbours of the thief reported on the thief's whereabouts and the culprit was arrested after only 2 days.
Online media is the new information center and the Police Force for Singapore (SPF) adapted to the modern approach. Social media has been utilized since 2009 to engage with the public. Alll 35 NPCs have maintained their own page on Facebook. It has been a richly rewarding solution from the public outreach via social platform media. The top 3 NPC page on Facebook with highest likes are Sengkang at top spot, Punggol claiming 2nd spot and Ang Mo Kio at 3rd spot.