Statute Details
- Title: Fees (Testing of Private Security Dog Handlers) Order 2018
- Act Code: FeA1920-S574-2018
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Legislating Authority: Minister for Finance
- Authorising Act: Fees Act (Cap. 106)
- Commencement: Not stated in the extract (the Order is dated and published as SL 574/2018)
- Made Date: 5 September 2018
- Publication / SL Number: SL 574/2018
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per provided metadata)
- Key Provisions: Section 2 (fees payable to the Commissioner of Police); Section 3 (revocation)
- Schedule: Sets out the fees for testing of private security dog handlers by the police K-9 unit
What Is This Legislation About?
The Fees (Testing of Private Security Dog Handlers) Order 2018 is a Singapore subsidiary legislative instrument that establishes the fees payable for a specific regulatory activity: the testing of private security dog handlers by the police K-9 unit. In practical terms, it tells regulated persons what they must pay when they submit to (or request) the relevant testing process conducted by the Police.
Although the Order is short, it is legally significant because it is made under the Fees Act (Cap. 106), which provides the statutory framework for charging fees for governmental services and regulatory matters. Under that framework, the Minister for Finance is empowered to specify fee amounts and the persons to whom those fees are payable. This Order therefore functions as the “pricing” instrument for a particular police testing service.
The scope is narrow: it does not create the testing regime itself (i.e., it does not set out how testing is conducted or the eligibility criteria for handlers). Instead, it focuses on the monetary consequences of the testing process—namely, the amounts payable and the recipient of those fees.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation) provides the formal name of the instrument: “Fees (Testing of Private Security Dog Handlers) Order 2018”. This is standard legislative drafting, but it matters for legal referencing, especially when practitioners need to cite the correct subsidiary legislation in submissions, correspondence, or compliance documentation.
Section 2 (Fees) 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. In plain language, Section 2 does two things:
- It incorporates the Schedule as the authoritative source of the fee amounts; and
- It identifies the payee—the Commissioner of Police—for those fee amounts.
For practitioners, the practical takeaway is that any invoice, payment demand, or compliance record should align with the Schedule’s fee table and the “matters” listed in the first column. If there is any dispute about whether a particular fee is payable, the legal analysis typically turns on whether the relevant testing matter corresponds to an entry in the Schedule.
The Schedule (Fees for testing of private security dog handlers by police K-9 unit) is where the actual fee amounts are set out. The extract provided does not reproduce the numeric fee figures, but the structure is clear: the Schedule lists the “matters” (in the first column) and the corresponding “fees” (in the second column). This table is the definitive legal source for the amounts.
Because the Schedule is incorporated by reference through Section 2, the Schedule should be treated as the primary compliance document. Lawyers advising private security dog handlers, security companies, or compliance teams should ensure that the correct fee entry is selected based on the type of testing required (for example, initial testing versus any subsequent or re-testing categories, if those are reflected in the Schedule). Even where the testing process is governed by other instruments (not contained in this extract), the fee payable for that process is governed by this Order.
Section 3 (Revocation) provides that the Fees (Testing of Security Guard Dog Handlers) Order (O 32) is revoked. This indicates a legislative update: the earlier fee order for “security guard dog handlers” is replaced by this 2018 Order for “private security dog handlers.” Revocation has immediate legal effect in the sense that the old fee schedule no longer governs going forward, and the new Order becomes the operative basis for charging fees.
From a practitioner’s perspective, revocation is particularly important for transitional issues. If a testing request was made, or a payment was demanded, under the old order before the new order took effect, there may be questions about which fee regime applies. While the extract does not specify commencement, the “made on” date and the SL publication date (17 Sep 2018 in the timeline metadata) are typically used to determine the relevant period for fee application.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a conventional, compact format for fee orders under the Fees Act:
- Enacting Formula: States that the Order is made under the powers conferred by section 2 of the Fees Act.
- Section 1 (Citation): Names the Order.
- Section 2 (Fees): Provides the legal mechanism for payment—fees in the Schedule are payable to the Commissioner of Police for the specified matters.
- Section 3 (Revocation): Removes the earlier fee order.
- Schedule: The fee table for testing of private security dog handlers by the police K-9 unit.
Notably, the Order contains no detailed procedural rules. It is designed to be read alongside other regulatory instruments that govern the testing requirement and the operational role of the police K-9 unit.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies to persons and entities who are subject to, or who request, testing of private security dog handlers conducted by the police K-9 unit. In practice, this typically includes private security dog handlers employed by or contracted to private security arrangements, and the security companies that facilitate compliance with police testing requirements.
Because the Order is a fee instrument, it does not directly regulate conduct such as handler licensing, dog training standards, or operational deployment. Instead, it applies at the point where the testing service is provided and a fee is charged. The legal obligation to pay arises from the fact that the testing matter corresponds to an entry in the Schedule and the fee is payable to the Commissioner of Police.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Fees (Testing of Private Security Dog Handlers) Order 2018 is brief, it is important for three main reasons: legal certainty on payment, compliance administration, and continuity of regulatory charging.
First, it provides legal certainty on the amounts payable for police testing. In regulated environments, fee disputes can arise if a party pays the wrong amount, pays under an outdated instrument, or challenges the legitimacy of a charge. Section 2 ties payment to the Schedule, making the fee table the authoritative reference point.
Second, it supports compliance administration for security companies and dog handlers. Compliance teams often need to budget for testing costs, manage payment workflows, and maintain audit-ready records. A clear fee order reduces ambiguity and helps ensure that invoices and internal costings reflect the legally correct amounts.
Third, the revocation clause in Section 3 signals a change in the fee regime—from the earlier “security guard dog handlers” order to the current “private security dog handlers” order. This matters for transitional periods and for any retrospective review of charges. Lawyers advising on disputes or regulatory correspondence should check whether the relevant testing event occurred before or after the new Order became the operative fee instrument.
Finally, because the Order is made under the Fees Act, it sits within a broader statutory scheme governing fees for governmental services. Practitioners should therefore treat it as part of a structured legal framework rather than as a standalone administrative notice.
Related Legislation
- Fees Act (Cap. 106) — the authorising Act under which the Minister for Finance may make fee orders.
- Fees (Testing of Security Guard Dog Handlers) Order (O 32) — revoked by Section 3 of this Order.
- Legislation timeline / related instruments on private security dog handling and police K-9 testing — not included in the extract, but typically relevant for understanding the testing requirement and process.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Fees (Testing of Private Security Dog Handlers) Order 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.