Statute Details
- Title: Protected Places (No. 10) Order 2006
- Act Code: IPA2017-S294-2006
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Protected Areas and Protected Places Act (Cap. 256)
- Enacting Minister/Authority: Minister for Home Affairs (made under delegated powers)
- Enacting Formula (power source): Section 5(1) of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act
- Citation and commencement: Comes into operation on 6 June 2006
- Key operative provisions: Sections 1–2 and the Schedule
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Protected Places (No. 10) Order 2006 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument that designates specific premises as “protected places” for the purposes of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act (Cap. 256). In practical terms, it is a targeted legal measure: rather than creating a general rule for all locations, it identifies particular premises (listed in the Schedule) and imposes strict access controls for those premises.
The overall policy behind the Protected Areas and Protected Places framework is security and public safety. “Protected places” are locations where unauthorised entry could create risks to persons, property, or national security. The Order therefore functions as a legal gatekeeping mechanism: it makes it unlawful for members of the public (or unauthorised persons) to enter the designated premises unless they have the required authorisation.
For lawyers, the key point is that this Order does not operate in isolation. It is made under section 5(1) of the Act and must be read together with the Act’s definitions, offences, enforcement powers, and procedural framework. The Order supplies the “where” (the premises), while the Act supplies the “what happens” when the access restrictions are breached.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement provides the legal identity and timing of the instrument. The Order may be cited as the Protected Places (No. 10) Order 2006 and comes into operation on 6 June 2006. This matters for practitioners dealing with alleged offences: the date of commencement is relevant to whether conduct occurred while the premises were legally designated as protected places.
Section 2: Premises declared to be protected place is the core operative provision. It states that the premises described in the second column of the Schedule are declared to be a “protected place” for the purposes of the Act. The section then creates a clear access restriction: no person shall be in those premises unless one of the following conditions is met:
(a) Possession of a pass-card or permit issued by the authority specified in the first column of the Schedule; or
(b) Permission from an authorised officer on duty at the premises to enter.
In plain language, Section 2 establishes a “permission-based entry” regime. The Schedule effectively maps each protected premises to the relevant issuing authority and the type of authorisation required. This structure is important in practice because it determines what evidence a person would need to show lawful entry (e.g., the relevant pass-card/permit) and who has the authority to grant entry permission on the ground.
The Schedule is therefore not merely administrative. It is the legal mechanism that identifies the protected premises and the authority responsible for issuing access credentials. Although the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule’s contents, the legal effect is explicit: the premises in the Schedule’s second column are protected places, and the authority in the first column is the body that issues the pass-card or permit that authorises entry.
From a litigation and compliance perspective, the Schedule is often where disputes arise. Common issues include whether the premises in question are indeed the premises described in the Schedule, whether the person’s credential was issued by the correct authority, and whether the person had permission from an authorised officer on duty. Practitioners should therefore treat the Schedule as a central evidentiary and interpretive document.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a straightforward, two-part format:
1. Enacting Formula — sets out the legal basis for the Minister’s power, referencing section 5(1) of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act.
2. Section 1 (Citation and commencement) — provides the name and commencement date.
3. Section 2 (Premises declared to be protected place) — declares the protected places and sets the access restriction tied to credentials or authorised officer permission.
4. THE SCHEDULE — lists the premises and the relevant authority issuing the pass-card or permit. The Schedule is the “where” component and is essential to determining the scope of the Order.
Notably, the extract does not show separate “parts” or detailed procedural provisions within the Order itself. This is typical of designation orders: the substantive offences, enforcement powers, and penalties are generally found in the parent Act (Cap. 256), while the Order performs the designation function.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies to “no person”—a broad formulation that captures everyone who might enter or be present at the designated premises. That includes members of the public, contractors, visitors, employees, and any other individuals whose presence at the premises would fall within the Order’s scope.
However, the Order’s practical application is mediated by the access conditions in Section 2. A person may lawfully be in the premises if they are in possession of the relevant pass-card or permit issued by the authority specified in the Schedule, or if they have received permission of an authorised officer on duty at the premises. Accordingly, the Order creates a legal distinction between authorised and unauthorised presence, rather than between categories of persons.
For practitioners advising clients, the key compliance question is not “who is the person?” but “does the person have the required authorisation for the specific premises?” Where credentials are involved, the issuing authority and the credential type are crucial. Where permission is involved, the authorised officer’s status and whether the officer was “on duty at the premises” may become relevant facts.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Protected Places (No. 10) Order 2006 is brief, it has significant legal consequences because it designates premises as protected places under Cap. 256. Once premises are designated, unauthorised presence becomes a matter of legal risk. For lawyers, this means the Order can be central in cases involving trespass-like conduct, security breaches, or enforcement actions under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the Order supports a clear operational rule for security personnel and authorised officers: entry is permitted only with the specified credentials or with permission from an authorised officer on duty. This clarity is important for both deterrence and due process—people are expected to know that protected premises require authorisation, and security staff have a defined basis for controlling access.
For corporate clients and facility operators, the Order also has practical governance implications. Organisations responsible for issuing pass-cards or permits must ensure that credentials are properly issued, controlled, and matched to the correct premises. Similarly, authorised officers must be trained to grant entry permission lawfully and consistently, and to maintain records where appropriate (even if the Order itself does not specify record-keeping, such practices may be relevant to demonstrating lawful permission in any subsequent investigation).
Finally, the commencement date (6 June 2006) and the “current version” status (as at 27 March 2026) highlight another practical point: designation orders can be amended, replaced, or consolidated over time. Lawyers should verify the correct version applicable to the relevant period and confirm whether the premises list in the Schedule has changed since the original 2006 instrument.
Related Legislation
- Protected Areas and Protected Places Act (Cap. 256) — the authorising Act; provides the legal framework for protected areas and protected places, including offences, enforcement powers, and definitions.
- Protected Places (other numbered orders) — designation orders made under the same Act to declare other premises as protected places (e.g., “Protected Places (No. X) Orders”).
- Legislation timeline / amendment instruments — instruments that may update the Schedule, authorities, or the designation of premises over time.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Protected Places (No. 10) Order 2006 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.