This year, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) marks 200 years of policing with a series of commemorative events. As one of the oldest government organisations in the country, its origins can be traced to the set-up of a police department in May 1820.

From its humble beginnings as a 12-man team led by Francis James Bernard, the SPF has grown into a force of 15,000 regular officers, civilian staff and full-time Police National Servicemen, augmented by Volunteer Special Constabulary officers and Operationally Ready Police National Servicemen. Today, Singapore is one of the safest countries in the world.

Kicking off the commemorative events with the SPF200 Run on 10 January, more than 300 current and retired police officers, civilian staff, Police National Servicemen, Volunteer Special Constabulary officers and Citizens On Patrol volunteers completed a total relay distance of 200km in 24 hours, passing through the sites of 30 past and present SPF establishments across the island. Past and present SPF officers also showed their support in the form of donations to the Community Chest to support Singaporeans in need.

President Halimah Yacob flagged off the final leg of the SPF200 Run at the Marina Barrage prior to the launch of the event on 11 January. More than 3,200 SPF officers and their family members, as well as beneficiaries from the Community Chest, joined the final lap, which culminated in the SPF200 Police Family Day Carnival at OCBC Square.

At the launch, the President unveiled a set of six stamps to commemorate the SPF’s bicentennial. The stamps feature various police vocations and also depict the strong police-community partnership, as well as paying tribute to the SPF’s pioneering officers.