Statute Details
- Title: Fees (Copies of Reports, Statements, Plans and Photographs) Order 2022
- Act Code: FeA1920-S864-2022
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Fees Act 1920 (powers under section 2)
- Enacting Minister: Minister for Finance
- Date Made: 26 October 2022
- Commencement: Not stated in the provided extract (practitioners should confirm in the official publication)
- Current Status (as provided): Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions: Section 2 (fees payable to the Commissioner of Police); Section 3 (revocation)
- Schedule: Sets out the specific fees for copies of reports, statements, plans and photographs
What Is This Legislation About?
The Fees (Copies of Reports, Statements, Plans and Photographs) Order 2022 is a subsidiary legislative instrument made under the Fees Act 1920. In practical terms, it establishes the fees payable to the Commissioner of Police for obtaining copies of certain police-related records—specifically, reports, statements, plans and photographs.
Although the extract provided does not reproduce the detailed fee amounts in the Schedule, the structure is clear: the Order sets out a list of “matters” (what type of copy is requested) and pairs each matter with a corresponding fee. This is typical of fee orders in Singapore: the substantive right to request copies is governed by other legal frameworks (for example, police procedures, access-to-information regimes, or disclosure rules in specific contexts), while the amount payable is set by the fee order.
Accordingly, the Order is best understood as a charging instrument. It does not itself create a broad right of access to police records; rather, it regulates the cost of obtaining copies once the relevant process exists. For lawyers, this matters because fee disputes can arise in practice—particularly where requests are made for copies for litigation, investigations, insurance claims, or personal records.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: the “Fees (Copies of Reports, Statements, Plans and Photographs) Order 2022”. This is largely administrative, but it is important for accurate legal referencing in correspondence, submissions, and internal compliance documents.
Section 2 (Fees payable to the Commissioner of Police) is the core operative provision. It states that the fees specified in the second column of the Schedule are payable to the Commissioner of Police in respect of the matters specified opposite in the first column of the Schedule. In other words, Section 2 creates the legal obligation to pay the Schedule fees, and it identifies the payee: the Commissioner of Police.
From a practitioner’s perspective, Section 2 has two practical implications. First, it confirms that the fee obligation is tied to the Schedule, not to any informal tariff or administrative practice. Second, it indicates that the relevant payment channel is within the police administration (i.e., the Commissioner of Police), which affects how requests should be processed and how payment should be documented.
Section 3 (Revocation) provides that the earlier fee order, the Fees (Copies of Reports, Statements, Plans and Photographs) Order (O 25), is revoked. Revocation is significant because it prevents the continued application of outdated fee rates. For lawyers advising clients or preparing budgets for document procurement, confirming the current fee order is essential to avoid overpayment or underpayment.
Revocation also matters for disputes about fees charged before the new Order took effect. If a client was charged under the old order, the timing of the request and the applicable version of the fee schedule may become relevant. While the extract does not state the commencement date, the official publication and timeline should be consulted to determine the effective period of each fee schedule.
The Schedule (the fee table) is the heart of the instrument. The Schedule is described as containing “Fees” and, by implication, a mapping between (i) the type of copy requested (reports, statements, plans, photographs) and (ii) the corresponding fee amount. In fee orders, the Schedule often also clarifies whether fees differ by format, number of pages, size of plans, or whether copies are provided in particular media (for example, printed versus digital). Even though the extract does not show the amounts, the Schedule’s existence signals that the fee is not a single flat charge but rather depends on the specific category of record.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a short, standard format typical of Singapore fee subsidiary legislation:
(1) Enacting formula and citation: The instrument is made under the Fees Act 1920 and is cited as the “Fees (Copies of Reports, Statements, Plans and Photographs) Order 2022”.
(2) Operative provisions: Section 2 sets out the payment obligation and identifies the payee (Commissioner of Police). Section 3 revokes the earlier fee order.
(3) Schedule: The Schedule contains the fee table. It is referenced directly by Section 2, with the “first column” listing the matters and the “second column” listing the fees.
Notably, the extract indicates “Parts: N/A”, meaning the Order is not divided into multiple Parts; it is essentially a compact instrument with a Schedule.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies to persons who seek copies of the specified police records—namely reports, statements, plans and photographs—through the police administration. The fee is payable to the Commissioner of Police for the relevant matters listed in the Schedule.
In terms of legal scope, the Order is not limited by the requester’s identity (e.g., it does not expressly restrict fees to suspects, complainants, or members of the public). Instead, it applies to the transaction: if a person requests a copy that falls within the Schedule categories, the corresponding fee is payable. For lawyers, this means that the Order may be relevant both in pre-litigation document gathering and in litigation contexts where parties seek police records or police-held materials.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short, it is practically important because it governs the cost of obtaining police-held copies. In many legal matters, access to police records can be critical—such as in criminal proceedings, traffic-related disputes, personal injury claims, insurance investigations, and civil litigation where police reports or photographs may be relevant evidence.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, fee orders provide the legal basis for charging. If a client is asked to pay a fee for copies of reports, statements, plans or photographs, the relevant question is whether the fee corresponds to the Schedule under the current order. Section 2’s reference to “fees specified in the second column of the Schedule” supports the view that the police must charge according to the legislated tariff.
For practitioners, the Order also has a version-control dimension. Because Section 3 revokes the earlier order, lawyers should ensure they are working with the current fee schedule when advising on costs. Where disputes arise (for example, a client challenges a fee amount or alleges that an incorrect tariff was applied), the timeline and the applicable version date become relevant. The extract indicates the instrument is “current version as at 27 Mar 2026” and references a timeline entry of “31 Oct 2022” with “SL 864/2022”. Counsel should verify the effective date and any amendments through the official legislation timeline.
Related Legislation
- Fees Act 1920 (authorising legislation; provides the framework for fees in Singapore)
- Fees (Copies of Reports, Statements, Plans and Photographs) Order (O 25) (revoked by Section 3 of the 2022 Order)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Fees (Copies of Reports, Statements, Plans and Photographs) Order 2022 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.