SPF Responded to Widely Shared Video of Their Officers Using Force to Restrain a Woman

It can be tough trying to be a police officer in Singapore.

Not only do you have to deal with cameras everywhere, but there are also times where you could be misunderstood, or cause members of the public to be angered when doing your duty.

The latest happening took place on 14 Dec 2020.

Here’s what happened.

Video of Their Officers Using Force to Restrain a Woman Goes Viral

On 15 Dec 2020, Facebook user Aizz took to the social media platform to upload a video on Complaint Singapore.

Based on the video, it appears that the incident took place at Ang Mo Kio.

The video showed two police officers kneeling on the ground, trying to restrain a woman.

Other police officers arrived on the scene to subdue the frantic lady.

Throughout the incident, the woman could be heard shouting repeatedly that the police officers are “beating” her.

As of the time of writing, the post has 732 shares and over 300 comments.

Passers-by Incensed By Police Officers’ Actions

The arrest was pretty dramatic and noticeable and passers-by captured in the video were seemingly not happy about how the police officers were conducting their affairs.

A female passer-by was heard asking why the officers were “handcuffing” her, and how they are not supposed to do that.

Another man in red shouted at the police officers, asking them not to use force because “she’s a lady.”

The man cursed at the officers and shouted, “You used force, I saw just now. You used force!”

Two police officers had to divert their attention into calming him down.

When the officers told the woman that they were there to help her, she told them to let her go:

“I just want to earn a living here. Just earn enough to eat, can already. Let me go. We are all Chinese.”

When approached by two passers-by, the police officers explained that the woman was aggressive towards them.

One of them even showed his broken lanyard to try and explain why they had to do what they did.

A second video uploaded in the comments section showed that the lady continued struggling even after being handcuffed.

SPF: She Was Apprehended Under The Mental Health Act

According to the Singapore Police Force, they had received a call for assistance on 14 Dec 2020 at 4.43pm regarding the woman whom, they said, was believed “to be of unsound mind and creating trouble”.

When they arrived on the scene, the 43-year-old woman was uncooperative and started shouting incoherently.

It was added that she had also behaved in an “erratic and aggressive manner”.

To ensure her safety, as well as other road users, police officers on the scene decided to restrain her and bring her back to safety.

Female police officers also arrived at the scene to help shortly after.

No injuries were reported during the incident, SPF said, and she was arrested under Section 7 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act.

It was also clarified that, in the absence of a female officer, male officers are allowed to arrest women in their duty to maintain peace and order.

You can watch the full video here.

Feature Image: Facebook (Aizz)