Statute Details
- Title: Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal Rules 2021
- Act Code: S570-2021
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Enacting Formula / Approval: Made on 8 July 2021 by Command (Secretary to the Cabinet: TAN KEE YONG)
- Commencement: 3 June 2022
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Subject: Institution, eligibility, award process, wearing, publication, forfeiture, and replacement of the “Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal”
- Key Provisions: Section 2 (definitions); Section 5 (award by Permanent Secretary on Commissioner’s recommendation); Section 8 (publication in the Gazette); Sections 9–10 (forfeiture and replacement)
- Schedule: Specifies the design of the medal
What Is This Legislation About?
The Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal Rules 2021 (“the Rules”) create and govern a commemorative medal marking the Singapore Police Force’s bicentennial. In practical terms, the Rules set out who may receive the medal, how the medal is approved and awarded, what the medal looks like, how it must be worn, and the administrative steps for publishing recipients’ names.
Although the medal is commemorative, the Rules are not merely ceremonial. They include governance mechanisms typical of state honours legislation: an official decision-maker (the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs) awards the medal based on a recommendation from the Commissioner of Police; there are grounds for forfeiture; and there are procedural rules for replacement if a medal is lost or destroyed.
The scope of the Rules is time-bound and service-based. Eligibility is tied to whether a person was in “active service” during the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 (inclusive). The Rules also extend eligibility beyond regular police officers to include members of the Special Constabulary and the Vigilante Corps, and certain persons liable for reserve service who were rendering reserve service in those organisations.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation, commencement, and definitions (Rules 1–2)
Rule 1 provides the short title and commencement: the Rules are the “Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal Rules 2021” and come into operation on 3 June 2022. This matters for practitioners because it clarifies when the administrative framework for awarding, forfeiting, and replacing the medal becomes legally effective.
Rule 2 defines key terms. “Commissioner” refers to the Commissioner of Police appointed under the Police Force Act. “Permanent Secretary” refers to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. “Medal” refers to the medal instituted and governed by the Rules. These definitions anchor the decision-making roles and the object of the Rules.
2. Designation and award eligibility (Rules 3–4)
Rule 3 designates the medal as the Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal. This is a formal naming provision that ensures the medal is legally identifiable and distinct from other honours.
Rule 4 is the core eligibility provision. The medal “may be awarded to any eligible person” who was in active service during any part of the period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 (both inclusive). The use of “may be awarded” indicates discretion rather than an automatic entitlement, even if a person meets the eligibility criteria.
Rule 4(2) defines “active service” broadly. It includes full-time or part-time service, whether or not the service is regular, operationally ready national service, mobilised service, or voluntary service. It also covers service as a member of the Singapore Police Force, the Special Constabulary, or the Vigilante Corps, as applicable.
“Eligible person” is similarly expansive. It includes:
- police officers of the Singapore Police Force (under Part II of the Police Force Act);
- special police officers of the Special Constabulary (under Part VIII of the Police Force Act);
- members of the Vigilante Corps (under the Vigilante Corps Act); and
- persons liable for reserve service under the Enlistment Act, where they were rendering reserve service in the Singapore Police Force, the Special Constabulary, or the Vigilante Corps.
For legal practitioners, this breadth is significant. It means the Rules are designed to capture a wide range of public safety personnel, including those serving in different capacities and under different statutory regimes.
3. Award authority and decision-making process (Rule 5)
Rule 5 provides the institutional mechanism for awarding the medal. The medal is to be awarded by the Permanent Secretary, acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Commissioner. This establishes a two-step governance model:
- the Commissioner makes a recommendation; and
- the Permanent Secretary is the formal awarding authority who acts on that recommendation.
In administrative law terms, the structure suggests that the Commissioner’s recommendation is central to the merits assessment (who should receive the medal), while the Permanent Secretary provides the formal decision and accountability within the Ministry of Home Affairs.
4. Physical description, wearing requirements, and publication (Rules 6–8)
Rule 6 describes the medal’s physical characteristics. It consists of a multi-lobed disc in gold-plated brass, measuring 36 mm in width and 3 mm in thickness. The obverse bears the Singapore State Crest. The reverse bears the Singapore Police Force Crest with the words “POLICE BICENTENNIAL 2020” above and “SPF200” below. The design set out in the Schedule also applies.
Rule 7 specifies how the medal must be worn: on the left side of the recipient’s outer garment, suspended by a ribbon. The ribbon dimensions and colour stripes are precisely set out: 33 mm wide and 50 mm long; with a central red stripe of 9 mm, flanked by white stripes of 2 mm, followed by blue stripes of 10 mm on each side. This level of detail is typical for official decorations and ensures uniformity.
Rule 8 requires that the names of all recipients must be published in the Gazette. This publication requirement is legally important. It provides official notice of award and supports record-keeping and public verification.
5. Forfeiture and restoration (Rule 9)
Rule 9 introduces a disciplinary and integrity-based forfeiture regime. The Permanent Secretary may forfeit any medal awarded under the Rules if the person:
- is dismissed or dishonourably discharged from service in the Singapore Police Force;
- is convicted of any criminal offence;
- is guilty of misconduct or disloyalty to Singapore; or
- in the Permanent Secretary’s opinion, is not a fit and proper person to have been awarded the medal.
This provision is broad and gives the Permanent Secretary discretion, particularly under paragraph (d). The inclusion of “misconduct or disloyalty to Singapore” and the open-ended “fit and proper” standard means forfeiture can be triggered by a range of conduct and evaluative judgments, not limited strictly to criminal conviction.
Rule 9(2) allows restoration: any medal forfeited may be restored by the Permanent Secretary. Rule 9(3) requires that a notice of forfeiture or restoration must be published in the Gazette. For practitioners, this means that forfeiture/restoration is not merely internal—it must be publicly documented.
6. Replacement of medal and procedural timing (Rule 10)
Rule 10 governs replacement. A recipient may report in writing the loss or destruction of the medal to the Commissioner (Rule 10(1)). The Commissioner may approve replacement at the recipient’s expense if satisfied that the circumstances justify it (Rule 10(2)).
Rule 10(3) imposes a waiting period: no report of loss may be made until at least 6 months after the recipient first believes the medal to be lost. This requirement likely aims to reduce premature replacement requests and encourage continued search efforts.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Rules are structured as a short, self-contained instrument with a straightforward sequence:
- Part/Sections 1–2: Citation/commencement and definitions.
- Sections 3–4: Designation of the medal and eligibility/award criteria (including the “active service” concept and who counts as an “eligible person”).
- Sections 5–8: Award authority (Permanent Secretary on Commissioner’s recommendation), physical description, wearing instructions, and publication of recipients in the Gazette.
- Sections 9–10: Forfeiture/restoration and replacement procedures.
- Schedule: Sets out the design of the medal.
Notably, the Rules do not contain extensive procedural detail on how recommendations are made, how eligibility is verified, or how forfeiture decisions are reasoned. Instead, they focus on the legal framework and key decision points.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Rules apply to persons who fall within the defined categories of “eligible person” and who were in “active service” during the 2020 calendar year. This includes not only regular police officers but also special police officers, members of the Vigilante Corps, and certain reserve-service persons rendering reserve service in the relevant organisations.
In addition, the Rules apply indirectly to the administrative authorities involved: the Commissioner of Police (for recommendations and replacement approvals) and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (for awarding, forfeiture, and restoration). The Gazette publication requirement also affects how recipients’ names and any forfeiture/restoration notices are officially recorded.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal is commemorative, the Rules create a legally governed honours framework. For practitioners advising recipients, families, or administrative units, the Rules clarify that eligibility is time-specific (1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020) and that award is discretionary (“may be awarded”), not automatic.
The forfeiture provisions are particularly significant. They provide a mechanism to remove the medal after award on integrity and service grounds, including dismissal/dishonourable discharge, criminal conviction, misconduct or disloyalty, and an evaluative “fit and proper” assessment. This can affect employment-related reputational consequences and requires careful attention to the legal standards and the Gazette publication requirement.
Finally, the replacement rules address practical issues that arise in real life—loss or destruction of medals. The requirement to report in writing to the Commissioner, the Commissioner’s discretion to approve replacement at the recipient’s expense, and the six-month waiting period are all operational details that can determine whether a replacement is possible and when it can be requested.
Related Legislation
- Police Force Act (Cap. 235)
- Enlistment Act (Cap. 93)
- Vigilante Corps Act (Cap. 343)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Singapore Police Bicentennial 2020 Medal Rules 2021 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.