A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SPEAR OFFICER
Completing the day-long selection process does not mean passing it. The benchmark for passing is not typically revealed.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the selection process, chief warder and SPEAR trainer Toh Hengli said successful candidates will then be invited to a tactical course that lasts for over 20 weeks.
This course teaches more specialised skills such as handling different weapons. Only those who pass will become SPEAR officers.
SPEAR officers undergo daily physical training for their jobs, which can involve relocating “difficult” inmates such as those who are violent or have improvised weapons, or escorting high-risk inmates facing capital charges to places such as the courtroom.
Some officers are also trained to perform caning.
SPEAR may also be activated to help their colleagues at the prisons, though this maybe happens just once every fortnight, said Toh.
At times, this could be when a fight breaks out – though in such cases, the initial response will be by prison officers on site.
If activated, SPEAR officers will walk the ground to show their presence and as a form of “deterrence”, so small fights don’t escalate into big brawls or worse.
