Govt to Develop Security & Accessibility Guidelines for Rollout of Nation-Wide Parcel Locker Network

Ordered things online you don’t want anyone else to know about? 

Well, lucky for you, the government is on your side!

Govt to Develop Security & Accessibility Guidelines for Rollout of Nation-Wide Parcel Locker Network

According to TODAYonline, the government is preparing for the rollout of a nation-wide parcel locker network, and drafting security guidelines and requirements in a multi-ministry effort.

Rather than enabling secret purchases, however, the locker network is meant to expedite the delivery of parcels by couriers, who will no longer need to deliver individual parcels door to door.

According to S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information, the rapid rise of e-commerce has driven a large increase in demand for parcel deliveries, and “it is neither productive, nor sustainable” to continue door-to-door operations for up to the 200,000 parcels delivered daily.

Up to 1,000 locker stations will be installed at key locations around Singapore, and residents can anticipate having access to at least one parcel locker station within 250m of their HDB blocks.

The lockers will be owned and operated by Pick Network, which is a subsidiary of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). Pick will have exclusive rights to install lockers at certain designated premises, while existing locker service providers will be able to continue operations elsewhere. 

The stations, which will be accessible by all delivery service providers, are expected to improve the efficiency of delivery workers significantly.

In a pilot programme conducted in Bukit Panjang and Punggol, the number of parcels delivered increased by at least four-fold compared to traditional door-to-door operations. 

According to Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Sim Ann, the increased efficiency will hopefully translate to better career prospects for delivery workers.

This, however, raises security concerns, as articulated in Parliament by Members of Parliament (MPs), including Louis Ng of Nee Soon GRC and Patrick Tay of Pioneer SMC.

Ms Sim responded that her ministry is hard at work to ensure safe locker designs and parcel-handling procedures. These include preventing dangerous items being deposited into the lockers, as well as protecting deposited items from sabotage, as TODAYonline reports.

Parcels sent from sources abroad will be screened by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for illicit contents, and locker stations will be under constant surveillance to aid investigations should the need arise. 

So, maybe put off your plans to order illegal items. They won’t let you off so easily.

The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) is also endeavouring to improve accessibility to the locker network, including an option to select wheelchair-friendly lockers when making an online purchase and digital literacy programmes for seniors to use the lockers.

Feature Image: Rido / Shutterstock.com