Special Tactics and Rescue (Singapore)

The Special Tactics and Rescue, or STAR, is an elite tactical unit of the Singapore Police Force. Its official task is to provide the SPF with a tactical armed-response capability, and its motto is "Vigilance, Valour, Victory".[2][3]

Special Tactics and Rescue
Special Tactics and Rescue Insignia
Active(PTT) March 1978 – 9 November 1993
(STAR) 9 November 1993 – Present
Country Singapore
BranchSingapore Police Force
TypePolice tactical unit
RoleLaw enforcement
Hostage rescue
Counter-terrorism
Homeland security
Direct action
Special operations
SizeClassified
Part ofSingapore Civil Defence
Garrison/HQQueensway Base
Nickname(s)Police Commandos, STAR Unit
Motto(s)Vigilance, Valour, Victory
EngagementsArrest of Yassir[1]
Decorations1994 Johore Shield Team
1995 Johore Shield Team
1995 SAPU & STAR Challenge Shield Team
1996 Johore Shield Team
1996 ISPSC Team
1997 ISPC Team
1997 SAF Invitation Team
1997 World Police & Fire Games
1998 ISPC Team
1999 ISPC Team
1999 SAF Invitation Team
2000 ISPC Team
2001 ISPC Team
2002 Singapore Shooting Festival Team
2002 CNB Invitation
2002 Thailand Open National Championship Team
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Cyril V Gabriel (Pioneer OC, 1978)
Patrick Tay
Insignia
Identification
symbol		STAR Insignia

Origins & History

STAR started off in March of 1978 as a part-time outfit called the Police Tactical Team (PTT), and was mainly used to contain civil disorder. During the early days, the Police Tactical Team was a motley crew of volunteer officers from the Police Task Force (PTF), who served even on their days off for a monthly allowance of $50.

The PTT, although drawing expertise from the PTF, were still limited in their operational readiness, skills and capability. Resulting from the need to provide the Singapore Police Force with a dedicated armed response team, with expertise assistance of Hong Kong Police Force's Special Duties Unit, the United Kingdom's SAS, Germany’s GSG 9, France’s GIGN, and America’s Delta Force, the PTT was re-formed into STAR under Special Operations Command and commissioned on 9 November 1993.

Duties

Prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks, the role of STAR was to engage in neutralising armed and dangerous criminals, to resolve urban sieges that may involve hostages or firearms, protection of VIPs and escorting of particularly dangerous prisoners.[2]

After the events of 11 September, the unit was also planned to undertake counter-terrorism duties. In 2005, STAR acquired a new maritime assault capability to augment the Police Coast Guard and the Republic of Singapore Navy in dealing with maritime threats.[4]

Known Operations

On 8 May 1998, STAR unit was activated to raid an HDB flat in Chai Chee to apprehend 40 year old Anthony Tan Cheng Lock, a drug addict who earlier shot a police officer in the thigh and stole his service revolver at a housing estate in Woodlands the previous night, after violently resisting arrest. Tan committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with the stolen revolver after STAR troopers breached into the flat.[5][6] Tan had been admitted into the drug rehabilitation centre five times for drug consumption from 1982 to 1993, and was wanted by Central Narcotics Bureau for skipping mandatory reporting dates under drug supervision order prior to his death.

The STAR unit was involved in the arrest of an AWOL and armed National Serviceman, Dave Teo Min, in 2007 at the Orchard Cineleisure Mall without firing a shot.[1][7]

In 2016, STAR responded to two separate hostage situations in the flats of Ang Mo Kio and Sembawang, in which both events involved in stand-offs for more than ten hours.[8][9]

In May 2018, STAR was involved in a covert operation to swiftly apprehend two Taiwanese weapons smugglers who were part of an organised crime syndicate that were busted in Taiwan, but had escaped to Singapore.[10][11]

Selection and training

Application to join the STAR unit is open to both public and police officers through the open recruitment exercise every year around October to December.[12]

To get the best people for the job, the unit holds an intensive and rigorous selection process. During this process, candidates have to undergo a full-day screening to evaluate both their physical and mental capabilities. After which, they are put through psychological assessments and an interview is conducted by an interview panel. Successful applicants will be notified to undergo a final medical review before starting their intensive two-month training and orientation.[13]

During the two months, the candidates will be put through another series of tests to evaluate their capabilities in given situations. Those who make it through the selection week (also known as Hell Week) will then embark on a six-month training course which includes doctrinal and practical sessions in related disciplinary acts. It is also referred to as STAR Main Course, which consists of the basic and intermediate phases of STAR’s core skills training.

The STAR unit is known to have sent officers extensively for overseas training attachments and study visits with different units such as Hong Kong's Special Duties Unit, Israeli Border Guard's Yamam, France's GIGN, Germany's GSG 9, and the Australian Special Operations Group.

Equipment and vehicles

Pistols:

Shotguns:

Sub-machine guns:

Assault rifles:

Sniper rifles:

Armoured personnel carriers:

Transport Vans:

Tactical Response SUVs:

See also

References
  1. Who is Dave Teo Ming? Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 9 September 2007.
  2. Unofficial STAR Unit Page. Retrieved on 4 January 2008.
  3. Unofficial STAR Page. Retrieved on 4 January 2008.
  4. Police Coast Guard/Special Operations Command (2 February 2005). "Speech By A/P Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, at Commissioning Ceremony of the STAR Unit Maritime Assault Capability, 2 February 2005, 10.00 AM at Police Coast Guard, Pulau Brani Base". Archived from the original on 13 April 2009.
  5. "Crimewatch 1999". meWATCH. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  6. Tan, Judith; Sen, Ng Jun (21 June 2015). "Man grabs gun, shoots police officer at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital". The New Paper. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  7. The Strait Times. 9 September 2007.
  8. "The Straits Times". Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  9. "Today Online". Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  10. "Taiwan News". Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  11. "YouTube". Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  12. "Mothership". Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  13. "Singapore Police Force". Retrieved 9 February 2020.
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