Appointment of Director-General, Directors, Deputy Directors and Senior Assistant Directors of Community Relations
13B.—(1) The Minister may appoint any person to be the Director-General of Community Relations who is responsible for the administration of this Part and to perform the following functions:(a)
to facilitate the amicable and early resolution of disputes relating to unreasonable interference with an individual’s enjoyment or use of his or her place of residence;
(b)
to administer this Part subject to the general or special directions of the Minister;
(c)
to inform and advise the Minister on matters relating to this Part;
(d)
to perform such other functions and duties as the Minister may assign to the Director-General.
(2) The Minister may in writing appoint such numbers of Directors of Community Relations, Deputy Directors of Community Relations and Senior Assistant Directors of Community Relations as the Minister may consider expedient or necessary for the purposes of this Part.
(3) An appointment under subsection (1) must be published in the Gazette.
(4) Subject to the directions of the Director-General, the powers and duties of the Director-General under this Act may be exercised and discharged by a Director, Deputy Director or Senior Assistant Director of Community Relations.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Appointment of community relations officers
13C.—(1) The Director-General may in writing appoint any of the following individuals to be a community relations officer to facilitate the amicable and early resolution of disputes relating to unreasonable interference with an individual’s enjoyment or use of his or her place of residence in any particular area or areas in Singapore:(a)
a police officer;
(b)
a public officer;
(c)
an officer or employee of a statutory body.
(2) The Director-General may, for any reason that appears to the Director-General to be sufficient, at any time revoke an individual’s appointment as a community relations officer.
(3) An individual who is appointed as a community relations officer under subsection (1) does not, only because of the appointment, become an employee or agent of the Government.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Appointment of auxiliary community relations officers
13D.—(1) The Director-General may in writing appoint any of the following individuals who is at least 18 years of age to be an auxiliary community relations officer to facilitate the amicable and early resolution of disputes relating to unreasonable interference with an individual’s enjoyment or use of his or her place of residence in any particular area or areas in Singapore:(a)
an auxiliary police officer;
(b)
an individual who is not mentioned in section 13C(1) but who has the suitable training to properly exercise the powers of an auxiliary community relations officer.
(2) The Director-General may, for any reason that appears to the Director-General to be sufficient, at any time revoke an individual’s appointment as an auxiliary community relations officer.
(3) An individual who is appointed as an auxiliary community relations officer under subsection (1) does not, only because of the appointment, become an employee or agent of the Government.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Identification cards and equipment
13E.—(1) The Director-General must issue to each community relations officer and auxiliary community relations officer an identification card, which must be carried at all times by the community relations officer or auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) when exercising powers under any provision in this Act or in any other written law.
(2) A community relations officer and an auxiliary community relations officer whose appointment as such ceases must return any identification card issued to him or her under subsection (1) to the Director-General.
(3) A community relations officer and an auxiliary community relations officer must produce his or her identification card for inspection —(a)
before exercising a power under this Act; and
(b)
at any time during the exercise of a power under this Act, if asked to do so.
(4) A community relations officer and an auxiliary community relations officer is to be issued with such equipment, or such description of equipment, as the Director-General may determine to be necessary for the effectual discharge of the duties of a community relations officer or an auxiliary community relations officer, as the case may be.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Public servants
13F. A community relations officer and an auxiliary community relations officer who, in the course of his or her duty as a community relations officer or an auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be), exercises any power under this Part, in accordance with the written authorisation of the Director-General is taken to be a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code 1871 when exercising the power.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
