Statute Details
- Title: Protected Places (No. 15) Order 2006
- Act Code: IPA2017-S611-2006
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Protected Areas and Protected Places Act (Cap. 256)
- Enacting Formula (Power Source): Section 5(1) of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act
- Commencement: 6 November 2006
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Declaration of protected places); Schedule (premises and authority)
- Current Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026 (per the legislation platform)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Protected Places (No. 15) Order 2006 is a Singapore subsidiary legislation instrument made under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act (Cap. 256). Its central purpose is to designate specific premises as “protected places” for the purposes of the Act. Once premises are declared protected, access is restricted and controlled to protect sensitive sites and maintain security.
In practical terms, the Order operates as a legal “access control” tool. It identifies particular premises (listed in the Schedule) and specifies the authority that issues the relevant pass-card or permit. It also sets out the rule that no person may enter those premises unless they hold the required authorisation or obtain permission from an authorised officer on duty.
Although the Order is short, it has significant operational impact. It creates a legal condition for entry into designated premises, and it ties compliance to the broader statutory framework of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act. Lawyers advising on compliance, enforcement risk, or security procedures will therefore need to read the Order together with the parent Act.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement provides the formal identity of the instrument and when it takes effect. The Order may be cited as the “Protected Places (No. 15) Order 2006” and comes into operation on 6 November 2006. For practitioners, this matters when assessing whether a particular entry occurred after the designation took effect, and whether the access restrictions were legally in force at the relevant time.
Section 2: Premises declared to be protected place is the operative provision. It declares that the premises described in the second column of the Schedule are “protected place[s]” for the purposes of the Act. The legal consequence is immediate and strict: no person shall be in those premises unless they satisfy one of the authorised entry routes.
Section 2 then sets out the two lawful bases for being on the premises:
- Possession of a pass-card or permit issued by the authority specified in the first column of the Schedule; or
- Permission from an authorised officer on duty at the premises to enter the premises.
This structure is important. The Schedule effectively “configures” the access regime by pairing each protected premises description with the relevant issuing authority. Practitioners should therefore treat the Schedule as integral to the legal meaning of Section 2, not as mere administrative detail.
The Schedule is where the designation becomes concrete. While the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule’s entries, the legal effect is clear from Section 2: the Schedule’s second column identifies the premises, and the first column identifies the authority that issues the pass-card or permit. In practice, the Schedule is where lawyers will confirm:
- the exact site(s) or premises that are protected; and
- which authority’s authorisations are recognised for entry.
Because the Order restricts entry based on possession of the correct pass-card/permit or permission from an authorised officer, the precise identification of premises and the specified authority are likely to be central in any dispute about whether a person was lawfully present.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Protected Places (No. 15) Order 2006 is structured in a conventional format for subsidiary legislation made under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act:
- Enacting Formula: states the enabling power (section 5(1) of Cap. 256) and that the Minister for Home Affairs makes the Order.
- Section 1: citation and commencement.
- Section 2: declaration of protected places and the conditions for lawful presence.
- THE SCHEDULE: lists the premises and the authority specified for issuing pass-cards or permits.
Notably, the Order does not itself set out offences, penalties, or enforcement procedures in the extract. Those elements are typically found in the parent Act (Cap. 256). The Order’s role is therefore primarily declaratory and access-restrictive: it identifies the protected premises and defines the lawful routes for entry.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to “no person” being in the designated premises. This language is broad and is not limited to employees, contractors, visitors, or any particular category of persons. Accordingly, the restrictions apply to anyone who enters or is present within the protected premises after the Order’s commencement.
In terms of practical scope, the Order also indirectly affects persons who manage access—such as facility operators, security personnel, and those responsible for issuing or verifying pass-cards/permits. However, the legal duty expressed in Section 2 is framed as a prohibition on being in the premises without the required authorisation or permission.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Protected Places (No. 15) Order 2006 is brief, it is legally consequential. Designation as a protected place means that entry is not merely subject to internal building rules; it is subject to statutory restrictions. For lawyers, this elevates the compliance stakes: a failure to hold the correct pass-card/permit or to obtain permission from an authorised officer can create legal exposure under the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act.
From an enforcement and risk perspective, the Order’s key practical impact is that it creates a clear, objective test for lawful presence: (1) possession of the correct authorisation issued by the specified authority, or (2) permission from an authorised officer on duty. This reduces ambiguity and supports enforcement actions where a person is found on-site without meeting either condition.
For practitioners advising clients—whether individuals, corporate entities, or security contractors—the Order should be treated as part of a compliance “matrix” for access to sensitive premises. Common issues include:
- Verification of authorisations: ensuring the pass-card/permit is issued by the correct authority listed in the Schedule.
- Visitor management: ensuring that visitors obtain permission from an authorised officer on duty where required.
- Training and procedures: ensuring security staff understand the legal basis for restricting entry and the circumstances under which permission can be granted.
- Evidence and timelines: confirming the Order’s commencement date (6 November 2006) when assessing whether restrictions applied at the time of an incident.
Finally, because the Order is “Protected Places (No. 15),” it sits within a broader set of similar instruments. Lawyers should therefore check whether other “Protected Places (No. …) Orders” or amendments affect the same premises, and whether the designation has changed over time. The platform’s “timeline” and “versions” features are therefore relevant for accurate legal advice.
Related Legislation
- Protected Areas and Protected Places Act (Cap. 256) — the authorising Act and the main statutory framework governing protected areas/places, including interpretation, offences, and enforcement mechanisms.
- Legislation timeline / versions for SL 611/2006 — to confirm the correct version applicable at the relevant date.
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Protected Places (No. 15) Order 2006 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.