Powers and duties under this Part subject to prescribed limitations
13G.—(1) The powers and duties of the Director-General, Directors, Deputy Directors, Senior Assistant Directors, community relations officers and auxiliary community relations officers under this Part (called in this section the powers and duties) are subject to the following limitations that the Minister may prescribe by regulations made under section 13Z:(a)
limitations as to the categories or types of unreasonable interference in relation to which the powers and duties may be exercised or performed;
(b)
limitations as to the degree of seriousness or severity of the unreasonable interference before certain powers and duties may be exercised or performed;
(c)
limitations as to the conduct of any relevant person or other circumstances in which the powers and duties may be exercised or performed;
(d)
limitations as to the geographical area or location in which the powers and duties may be exercised or performed;
(e)
limitations as to the types and capabilities of the detection and monitoring equipment that may be used or installed.
(2) The regulations mentioned in subsection (1) may —(a)
make different provisions for different categories or types of unreasonable interference;
(b)
make different provisions for different classes of powers and duties that may be exercised or performed under different provisions of this Part;
(c)
provide for the scope and application of any of the prescribed limitations to be determined by the Director-General including but not limited to determining the degree of seriousness or severity of the unreasonable interference before certain powers and duties may be exercised; and
(d)
provide for factors which may be taken into account by the Director-General in determining whether a particular complaint or circumstance falls within the scope of the prescribed limitations.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Authorisation of community relations officers and auxiliary community relations officers to exercise powers
13H.—(1) The Director-General must issue each community relations officer and auxiliary community relations officer a written authorisation specifying each power mentioned in section 13I, 13J, 13L or 13M that the community relations officer or auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) may exercise subject to the prescribed limitations.
(2) A community relations officer or an auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) who is authorised to exercise any power under section 13I, 13J, 13L or 13M may only exercise the power —(a)
to the extent authorised by the Director-General under this section and subject to the prescribed limitations; and
(b)
in any case where an individual is suspected of an act or omission which causes unreasonable interference with his or her neighbour’s enjoyment or use of the place of residence that the neighbour resides in.
(3) The Director-General’s authorisation under subsection (1) for a community relations officer or an auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) may also do all or any of the following:(a)
limit the powers in section 13I, 13J, 13L or 13M that the community relations officer or auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) may exercise;
(b)
limit when the community relations officer or auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) may exercise those powers;
(c)
limit the geographical area or location in Singapore in which the community relations officer or auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) may exercise those powers;
(d)
limit the categories or types of unreasonable interference in relation to which those powers may be exercised by the community relations officer or auxiliary community relations officer, as the case may be;
(e)
limit the circumstances in which the community relations officer or auxiliary community relations officer (as the case may be) may exercise those powers.
(4) A community relations officer or an auxiliary community relations officer who is authorised under subsection (1) to exercise any power under section 13I, 13J, 13L or 13M (as the case may be) must obey all lawful directions (general or specific) of the Director-General when exercising that power.
(5) Nothing in section 13I, 13J, 13L or 13M and this section limits the Director-General of Public Health’s powers under Part 5 of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 or a Magistrate Court’s powers under section 15 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Powers of community relations officers
13I.—(1) The powers that a community relations officer may be authorised under section 13H to exercise are all or any of the following:(a)
to require a suspected individual to state the suspected individual’s name and residential address;
(b)
to require any person present or residing in a place of residence to provide information on the identity and particulars of the owner of or any person residing in the same place of residence, where an act or omission causing unreasonable interference was reasonably suspected to have been committed in that place;
(c)
to require any of the following individuals to attend before a community relations officer, if any prior reasonable attempt to meet and communicate with the individual has not been successful:(i)
a suspected individual;
(ii)
any complainant against the suspected individual;
(iii)
any other individual who may assist in the investigation of the complaint against the suspected individual;
(d)
to advise a suspected individual to abate the act or omission causing unreasonable interference;
(e)
to photograph or film, or otherwise make an audio or visual recording in the place or the vicinity of the place where, or in respect of which, an act or omission causing unreasonable interference was committed or was reasonably suspected to have been committed, and any individual, thing, document or record in that place and to retain the photograph, film or recording;
(f)
to make a copy of and retain the copy of any document or record mentioned in paragraph (e);
(g)
to take statements from —(i)
a suspected individual;
(ii)
any complainant against the suspected individual; or
(iii)
any other individual who may assist in the investigation of the complaint against the suspected individual;
(h)
to require any individual or complainant mentioned in paragraph (g) to make and sign a declaration of the truth of the statement that he or she makes;
(i)
to issue a written warning to a suspected individual to cease any act or omission causing unreasonable interference;
(j)
to issue written advisories to residents to maintain neighbourly relations and community peace;
(k)
to carry out an order made by a tribunal under section 11A and for this purpose the community relations officer may exercise the powers mentioned in this section;
(l)
to serve or deliver to a suspected individual, if he or she is alleged to have committed an offence, an offer of composition made by the Director-General or a person authorised by the Director-General;
(m)
to enter a place of residence at any reasonable time of the day, with the consent of the owner or occupier of the place of residence, for the purpose —(i)
of installing detection and monitoring equipment; or
(ii)
of exercising any power under paragraph (e) or (f);
(n)
to install detection and monitoring equipment in the vicinity of a place of residence without entering the place of residence and with the consent of the entity responsible for the vicinity of the place of residence;
(o)
to serve or deliver any other direction, notice, order or requirement issued by the Director-General, a community relations officer or a tribunal under this Act.
(2) The powers that a community relations officer may be authorised under section 13H to exercise, with the Director-General’s prior written approval, are all or any of the following:(a)
to require any person, organisation or public agency to provide information on the identity and particulars of the owner of or any person or tenant residing in a place of residence in respect of which an act or omission causing unreasonable interference was reasonably suspected to have been committed;
(b)
to require any person to provide any other information in the possession or within the knowledge of that person that in the opinion of the Director-General is required to investigate an act or omission causing unreasonable interference that was reasonably suspected to have been committed;
(c)
to enter a place of residence at any reasonable time of the day, without the consent of the owner or occupier of the place of residence for the purpose of exercising any power under subsection (1)(e) or (f).
(3) A community relations officer may, in the exercise of his or her powers under subsection (1)(m)(i) and (n) and (2)(c), be accompanied by a person authorised by the Director-General to render technical and other assistance.
(4) The Director-General or a community relations officer may disclose or provide any information, statement, image, audio or visual recording, document or other evidence obtained under this section —(a)
to any court in relation to or in support of any claim or application under this Act; or
(b)
for the purposes of exercising the functions or powers of the Director-General or a community relations officer under this Act.
(5) To avoid doubt, it is not necessary to obtain the consent of the owner or occupier of the place of residence mentioned in subsection (1)(n) in exercising the power in that provision to install detection and monitoring equipment in the vicinity of that place of residence.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Powers of auxiliary community relations officers
13J.—(1) The powers that an auxiliary community relations officer may be authorised under section 13H to exercise are all or any of the following:(a)
to require a suspected individual to state the suspected individual’s name and residential address;
(b)
to advise a suspected individual to abate the act or omission causing unreasonable interference;
(c)
to photograph or film, or otherwise make an audio or visual recording in the place or the vicinity of the place where, or in respect of which, an act or omission causing unreasonable interference was committed or was reasonably suspected to have been committed, and any individual, thing, document or record in that place and to retain the photograph, film or recording;
(d)
to make a copy of and retain the copy of any document or record mentioned in paragraph (c);
(e)
to take statements from —(i)
a suspected individual;
(ii)
any complainant against the suspected individual; or
(iii)
any other individual who may assist in the investigation of the complaint against the suspected individual;
(f)
to require any individual or complainant mentioned in paragraph (e) to make and sign a declaration of the truth of the statement which he or she makes;
(g)
to serve or deliver a written warning to cease any act or omission causing unreasonable interference;
(h)
to serve or deliver written advisories to residents to maintain neighbourly relations and community peace;
(i)
to accompany and assist a community relations officer in the exercise of the community relations officer’s powers under this Part, subject to the directions of the community relations officer;
(j)
to serve or deliver to a suspected individual, if he or she is alleged to have committed an offence, an offer of composition made by the Director-General or a person authorised by the Director-General;
(k)
to serve or deliver any other direction, notice, order or requirement issued by the Director-General, a community relations officer or a tribunal under this Act.
(2) The powers that an auxiliary community relations officer may be authorised under section 13H to exercise, with the Director-General’s prior written approval, are all or any of the following:(a)
to install detection and monitoring equipment in the vicinity of a place of residence without entering the place of residence and with the consent of the entity responsible for the vicinity of the place of residence;
(b)
to enter a place of residence at any reasonable time to install detection and monitoring equipment with the consent of the owner or occupier of the place of residence.
(3) An auxiliary community relations officer may, in the exercise of his or her powers under subsection (2), be accompanied by a person authorised by the Director-General to render technical and other assistance.
(4) The Director-General or an auxiliary community relations officer may disclose or provide any information, statement, image, audio or visual recording, document or other evidence obtained under this section —(a)
to any court in relation to or in support of any claim or application under this Act; or
(b)
for the purposes of exercising the functions or powers of the Director-General or an auxiliary community relations officer under this Act.
(5) To avoid doubt, it is not necessary to obtain the consent of the owner or occupier of the place of residence mentioned in subsection (2)(a) in exercising the power in that provision to install detection and monitoring equipment in the vicinity of that place of residence.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Discretion not to investigate or take further action
13K.—(1) The Director-General or a community relations officer may dismiss any complaint relating to unreasonable interference without any investigation or further action, if the Director-General or the officer is satisfied that the complaint is trivial, frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith.
(2) The Director-General may in writing direct that a person be prohibited from making any further complaint if the Director-General is satisfied that the person had habitually and persistently, and without any reasonable ground, made trivial, frivolous or vexatious complaints relating to unreasonable interference.
(3) In deciding whether to issue a direction against a person under subsection (2), the Director-General may consider all the circumstances of the case including whether any civil restraint order under section 31C, 31D or 31E has been made against the person.
(4) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a direction issued under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(5) Without affecting subsections (1) and (2), the Director-General or a community relations officer may dismiss any complaint relating to unreasonable interference without any investigation or further action after considering the following factors:(a)
the likelihood that an amicable resolution to the dispute may be achieved;
(b)
the availability and need to prioritise the resources available;
(c)
the degree of seriousness or severity of the alleged unreasonable interference.[Act 43 of 2024 wef 24/03/2025]
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
