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Response to "Slow action on unattended bag at airport" (The Straits Times, 23 November 2016)
The Straits Times
3 December 2016
Process for unclaimed baggage will be enhanced
Mr Reuben Cheang raised concerns ("Slow action on unattended bag at airport"; Nov 23) about the slow response by various officers at Changi Airport to an unattended bag at the baggage claim area, which is a restricted area and not accessible to the public .
All baggage arriving in Singapore is screened and checked, to ensure that there are no items of security concern.
The airport has an established process for handling unclaimed baggage. In general, all unclaimed baggage will be referred to the Baggage Lost & Found counter at the baggage claim area.
We agree that the officers should have been more responsive and could have dealt with the situation more promptly when Mr Cheang brought the matter to their attention.
We will work with the relevant airport agencies to set this right and reinforce the need for our officers to be vigilant and responsive, especially in today's security climate.
We thank Mr Cheang for his feedback and vigilance in keeping Singapore safe and secure.
Serene Wong (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
<Original letter>
The Straits Times
23 November 2016
Slow action on unattended bag at airport
I returned to Singapore last night and was the first at the baggage carousel at Changi Airport after clearing immigration checks.
There was no one at that carousel, but an unattended bag was right next to it.
I immediately signalled to Customs officers who had had a clear view of that bag all that while. But they did not take any action.
After waiting for about 10 minutes, I went to the Cisco officer guarding the exit. She came to look at the bag and called her senior and the airport police on the phone. I was told no one responded to her.
I dialled 999 but no one answered my call after two minutes of ringing. Meanwhile, the area was swarming with people and the area around the bag was still not cordoned off.
It was only 30 minutes after I notified the authorities that the airport police showed up. Their casual approach surprised me.
The bag turned out to contain souvenirs from a forgetful traveller.
But what would have happened if it had contained items that could create havoc in a public area?
There is so much emphasis on SGSecure and there have been so many public demonstrations of our anti-terrorism might.
Yet, when there is a seemingly suspicious item left in public, the authorities do not seem to take this threat seriously or with any sense of urgency.
There is definitely a need for more education, not just for the public but also for all uniformed personnel.
Reuben Cheang
3 December 2016
Process for unclaimed baggage will be enhanced
Mr Reuben Cheang raised concerns ("Slow action on unattended bag at airport"; Nov 23) about the slow response by various officers at Changi Airport to an unattended bag at the baggage claim area, which is a restricted area and not accessible to the public .
All baggage arriving in Singapore is screened and checked, to ensure that there are no items of security concern.
The airport has an established process for handling unclaimed baggage. In general, all unclaimed baggage will be referred to the Baggage Lost & Found counter at the baggage claim area.
We agree that the officers should have been more responsive and could have dealt with the situation more promptly when Mr Cheang brought the matter to their attention.
We will work with the relevant airport agencies to set this right and reinforce the need for our officers to be vigilant and responsive, especially in today's security climate.
We thank Mr Cheang for his feedback and vigilance in keeping Singapore safe and secure.
Serene Wong (Ms)
Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
<Original letter>
The Straits Times
23 November 2016
Slow action on unattended bag at airport
I returned to Singapore last night and was the first at the baggage carousel at Changi Airport after clearing immigration checks.
There was no one at that carousel, but an unattended bag was right next to it.
I immediately signalled to Customs officers who had had a clear view of that bag all that while. But they did not take any action.
After waiting for about 10 minutes, I went to the Cisco officer guarding the exit. She came to look at the bag and called her senior and the airport police on the phone. I was told no one responded to her.
I dialled 999 but no one answered my call after two minutes of ringing. Meanwhile, the area was swarming with people and the area around the bag was still not cordoned off.
It was only 30 minutes after I notified the authorities that the airport police showed up. Their casual approach surprised me.
The bag turned out to contain souvenirs from a forgetful traveller.
But what would have happened if it had contained items that could create havoc in a public area?
There is so much emphasis on SGSecure and there have been so many public demonstrations of our anti-terrorism might.
Yet, when there is a seemingly suspicious item left in public, the authorities do not seem to take this threat seriously or with any sense of urgency.
There is definitely a need for more education, not just for the public but also for all uniformed personnel.
Reuben Cheang