What is a Communications Stop Order?

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The aim of a Communications Stop Order (CSO) is to deny malicious actors access to information on the Police’s ongoing law enforcement operations to neutralise the attack, and ensure the safety of law enforcement officers and members of the public who are involved in the serious incident.

After the Minister for Home Affairs has issued an order to authorise the use of the powers in the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Act (POSSPA), the Commissioner of Police can activate a CSO to require all persons to stop making or communicating films or pictures of the specified area, and stop communicating text or audio messages about the ongoing law enforcement operations in the specified area. This applies regardless if the person making or communicating is within or outside of the specified area. During a CSO, members of the public can still provide information to the Police through the various reporting platforms such as the SGSecure app, i-Witness, or call the Police via the 999 hotline.

This counter measure would only be used when a serious incident calls for it. The CSO is not an information blackout throughout a serious incident. It is location-specific and the CSO will only cover the target area. It is limited in duration. After the security operations are over, the CSO will be lifted. The media can also broadcast/report about the specified area or law enforcement operations in the specified area after the CSO is lifted.

The public will be informed about the activation of the CSO through the police’s press release and online media. The Police will state clearly the time that it becomes effective, and the boundaries of the specified area.

A breach of the CSO is an offence which carries up to 2 years’ imprisonment, or a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

What is a Communications Stop Order?

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