Statute Details
- Title: Persons Appointed to Grant Licences
- Act Code: PFA2004-S289-1998
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Legislation Number: S 289
- Authorising Act: Police Force Act (Cap. 235)
- Commencement / Effective Date: 15 May 1998
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal extract)
- Key Legal Effect: Appoints specified Police officers to grant licences under two specified licensing statutes, in addition to senior Police officers
What Is This Legislation About?
The instrument titled Persons Appointed to Grant Licences is a Singapore subsidiary legislation made under the Police Force Act. In practical terms, it identifies which named officers within the Police Force are authorised to grant certain licences under other Acts. Rather than creating new licensing requirements from scratch, it reallocates or expands the administrative authority to issue licences.
Licensing regimes under Singapore law often require that licences be granted by particular office-holders. This subsidiary legislation addresses a specific administrative question: who, within the Police Force, may grant licences under the House to House and Street Collections Act and the Secondhand Dealers Act. The instrument answers that question by appointing two roles—(i) the Assistant Head and (ii) the Officer-in-charge of the General Licensing Unit, Licensing Division, Police Headquarters—to grant licences.
Importantly, the appointment is stated to operate in addition to other senior Police officers. That means the licensing power is not exclusive to the newly appointed officers; rather, it is shared concurrently with the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police (as specified for each Act). This is a common legislative technique to ensure continuity of licensing operations and to manage workload within the Police licensing framework.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Appointment of specific officers to grant licences (effective 15 May 1998). The enacting formula states that, in exercise of powers conferred by section 73(1) of the Police Force Act, the Minister for Home Affairs appoints—effective from 15 May 1998—the Assistant Head and the Officer-in-charge General Licensing Unit of the Licensing Division, Police Headquarters. These are the designated persons who may grant licences under the specified Acts.
2. Licensing authority under the House to House and Street Collections Act (Cap. 128). The instrument provides that the appointed officers may grant licences under the House to House and Street Collections Act in addition to the Commissioner of Police. This indicates that the Commissioner retains the authority to grant such licences, but the Assistant Head and the Officer-in-charge General Licensing Unit are also empowered to do so.
3. Licensing authority under the Secondhand Dealers Act (Cap. 288). Similarly, the instrument provides that the appointed officers may grant licences under the Secondhand Dealers Act in addition to the Deputy Commissioner of Police. Again, the Deputy Commissioner’s authority is preserved, while the appointed licensing officers are granted concurrent authority.
4. Scope is limited to “grant licences” under the named Acts. The extract does not suggest that the appointment extends to other functions (such as enforcement, suspension, revocation, or investigation). The operative language is directed to the act of granting licences under the two specified licensing statutes. For practitioners, this matters: if a dispute concerns a decision to refuse, revoke, or impose conditions, the relevant enabling provisions in the underlying Acts and any subsidiary regulations or internal directives would need to be examined to confirm the correct decision-maker.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This subsidiary legislation is structured as a short appointment instrument. It contains an enacting formula referencing the enabling power in the Police Force Act, followed by a single operative provision that (i) appoints specified Police officers and (ii) links their authority to two named licensing Acts.
From the extract, the structure is essentially:
- Enacting formula: identifies the Minister for Home Affairs, the enabling power (section 73(1) of the Police Force Act), and the effective date (15 May 1998).
- Appointment clause: appoints the Assistant Head and the Officer-in-charge General Licensing Unit (Licensing Division, Police Headquarters).
- Scope sub-paragraphs: specifies the Acts under which licences may be granted, and clarifies that the appointment is “in addition to” the Commissioner (for Cap. 128) and “in addition to” the Deputy Commissioner (for Cap. 288).
Because the instrument is brief, it functions more like an administrative authorisation than a comprehensive licensing code. Practitioners should therefore treat it as a decision-maker authorisation document, to be read together with the substantive licensing Acts it references.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This legislation applies primarily to persons within the Police Force—specifically, the Assistant Head and the Officer-in-charge General Licensing Unit of the Licensing Division at Police Headquarters. It is not directed at members of the public as a regulatory code; rather, it determines who may exercise licensing powers on behalf of the Police.
However, the practical effect is felt by licence applicants and licence holders under the two referenced Acts. Applicants seeking licences under the House to House and Street Collections Act or the Secondhand Dealers Act may have their applications processed and granted by the appointed officers. Licence holders may therefore encounter licensing decisions issued by these officers, and any legal challenge to the validity of the decision-maker’s authority would need to consider whether the appointment instrument properly authorises that officer’s role.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the instrument is short, it is legally significant because licensing decisions must be made by properly authorised persons. In administrative law terms, the validity of a licensing outcome can be affected if the decision-maker lacks statutory authority. By expressly appointing named roles within the Police licensing structure, this subsidiary legislation helps ensure that licence grants are made lawfully and can withstand procedural and jurisdictional scrutiny.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the “in addition to” language is particularly important. It confirms that the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police retain their respective licensing powers, but it also confirms that the appointed officers have concurrent authority. This reduces uncertainty in cases where licensing decisions are issued by officers other than the most senior Police office-holder. If a party argues that only the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner could grant the licence, this instrument is a direct rebuttal.
In practice, the appointment supports administrative efficiency and continuity. Licensing units often handle high volumes of applications and renewals. Authorising additional officers to grant licences allows the licensing division to manage workload without bottlenecking at the top level. For lawyers advising clients, this can affect timelines, internal review processes, and the identification of the correct officer for correspondence or for challenging a decision.
Related Legislation
- Police Force Act (Cap. 235) — enabling authority (section 73(1))
- House to House and Street Collections Act (Cap. 128) — licensing regime for house-to-house and street collections
- Secondhand Dealers Act (Cap. 288) — licensing regime for secondhand dealers
- Street Collections Act — referenced in the provided metadata (note: the extract specifically names the “House to House and Street Collections Act (Cap. 128)”)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Persons Appointed to Grant Licences for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.