Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Home Affairs (Abbreviation
: MHA; ; ; ) is a ministry
of the Government of Singapore
responsible for public safety, civil defence and immigration
. It is also known as the Home Team. It is headed by the Minister for Home Affairs
.
After Singapore became independent on August 9, 1965, Home Affairs returned to Empress Place address as part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence
(MID). MID stayed there for several months before it was re-located to Pearl's Hill (former Lower Barracks of Police).
On August 11, 1970, the Ministry of Interior and Defence was separated into two ministries, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence
. MHA remained at Pearl's Hill until August 1977 when it moved into its previous home at the Phoenix Park in Tanglin Road.
MHA, together with Police Headquarters, moved to the New Phoenix Park at 28 Irrawaddy Road on August 18, 2001
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
: MHA; ; ; ) is a ministry
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of the Government of Singapore
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
responsible for public safety, civil defence and immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
. It is also known as the Home Team. It is headed by the Minister for Home Affairs
Minister for Home Affairs (Singapore)
The Minister for Home Affairs is an appointment in the Cabinet of Singapore. Formed in 1970, it replaced the post of Minister for the Interior and Defence with the split of the Ministry of the Interior and Defence into the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs....
.
History
The Ministry of Home Affairs was set up in 1959 when Singapore attained self-government. Housed at the Empress Place Building, it remained there until September 16, 1963 when Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia and internal affairs became a federal responsibility.After Singapore became independent on August 9, 1965, Home Affairs returned to Empress Place address as part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence
Ministry of Interior and Defence
The Ministry of Interior and Defence of Singapore was set up in 1965, with Dr. Goh Keng Swee as the first Minister. The Ministry was responsible for both internal and external security, controlling both the Police Force and the Armed Forces....
(MID). MID stayed there for several months before it was re-located to Pearl's Hill (former Lower Barracks of Police).
On August 11, 1970, the Ministry of Interior and Defence was separated into two ministries, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
. MHA remained at Pearl's Hill until August 1977 when it moved into its previous home at the Phoenix Park in Tanglin Road.
MHA, together with Police Headquarters, moved to the New Phoenix Park at 28 Irrawaddy Road on August 18, 2001
Departments
The Ministry of Home Affairs consist of the following major departments:- Central Narcotics BureauCentral Narcotics BureauThe Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore was established in 1971 as the primary drug enforcement agency entrusted with the responsibilities of coordinating all matters pertaining to drug eradication...
(CNB) - Home Team AcademyHome Team AcademyThe Home Team Academy is the training institute for various organisations of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, including the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Singapore Prison Service, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority,...
(HTA) - Immigration and Checkpoints AuthorityImmigration and Checkpoints AuthorityThe Immigration and Checkpoints Authority is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Singapore Government.-Overview:...
(ICA) - Internal Security DepartmentInternal Security DepartmentThe Internal Security Department is a domestic intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore. It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence until it was split on 11 August 1970...
(ISD) - Singapore Civil Defence ForceSingapore Civil Defence ForceThe Singapore Civil Defence Force is the main agency in charge of the provision of emergency services in Singapore during peacetime and emergency.A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main role of SCDF is to provide...
(SCDF) - Singapore Police ForceSingapore Police ForceThe Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
(SPF) - Singapore Prison ServiceSingapore Prison ServiceThe Singapore Prison Service is an agency of the Government of Singapore under the hierarchy of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It runs 14 prisons and drug rehabilitation centres in Singapore. It is situated at Upper Changi Road....
(SPS)
Staff divisions
- Homefront Security Division (HSD)
- Strategic Planning and Development Division (SPD)
- Policy and Operations Division (POD)
- Community Engagement Division (CED)
- International & Corporate Relations Division (ICRD)
- Human Resource Division (HRD)
- Finance Division (FD)
- Technology & Infrastructure Division (T & I)
- Legal Division
- Audit for Cost Efficiency Team (ACET)
Statutory Boards
- Casino Regulatory AuthorityCasino Regulatory Authority of SingaporeThe Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore is a statutory board of the Singapore Government.The CRA is responsible for ensuring that the management and operation of the casinos in Singapore remains free from criminal influence or exploitation. It also ensure that gaming in a casino is conducted...
(CRA) - Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative EnterprisesSingapore Corporation of Rehabilitative EnterprisesThe Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises is a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs and was established on 1 April 1976....
(SCORE)
Committees/Councils
- Presidential Council for Religious Harmony
- National Crime Prevention CouncilNational Crime Prevention CouncilThe National Crime Prevention Council is an American educational nonprofit organization in Washington, DC whose mission is to enable people to create safer and more caring communities by addressing the causes of crime and violence and reducing the opportunities for crime to occur.The NCPC is...
- National Council Against Drug Abuse
- National Fire Prevention Council