Nparks officers should avoid behaving like lawless vigilantes when imposing covid-19 rules and regulations .

Nparks officers should avoid behaving like lawless vigilantes when imposing covid-19 rules and regulations .

https://www.gov.sg/article/what-you-can-and-cannot-do-during-the-circuit-breaker-period



I am shocked and saddened on translation of https://www.8world.com/news/singapore/ar...es-1097851 to read that some families flying kites or playing frisbee in parks were issued warning letters or summons, without information that Nparks had imposed clear signage and instructions that such activities were forbidden when they were previously allowed.

The law clearly says that all recreation activities is permitted (within safe distancing requirement measures) .

If Nparks notes that certain areas result in large congregation of people, then Nparks officers (with senior Nparks officer knowledge and endorsement) can probably set temporary rules along with ample clear signage or enforcement officers on site to ban such specific park recreational activities/ cordon off an area and issue fines for deliberate non compliance, e.g. Bedok jetty has new no fishing signs placed in line with circuit breaker period (however Nparks should do so judiciously and only apply such forbidding measures sparingly and only if there is no other possible alternative or the risk of COVID-19 spread is high due to participant non compliance).

Where a temporary ban is imposed, signs should also state the relevant laws which apply and the appropriate maximum punishment for such offence as is the case for many 'forbidden' signs in Singapore, e.g. No misuse of stop button in MRT (maximum fine $5000) this will build trust from public that Nparks officers are not lawless vigilantes.

Since the law says that any recreation is permitted, save the fact that it is strictly only between members of a SAME HOUSEHOLD, then it is the right and onus of Nparks to investigate if indeed the group participants belong to the same household, before issuing any warning letter or summons. Nparks may order participants to disperse and cease their group activity if they are unable to evidence their membership within the same household.

The law clearly states that all (any) legitimate forms of recreation, park rules (temporary and permanent) permitting are allowed.

Nparks officers shouldn't attempt to enforce vigilante justice nor be judge, jury and executioner, all at one go.

I hope that Nparks officers do not engage in witch hunting or vigilantism or become outlaws themselves.
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First published in the Government Gazette, Electronic Edition, on 7 April 2020 at 11.59 pm.


No. S 254
COVID-19 (TEMPORARY MEASURES) ACT 2020 (ACT 14 OF 2020)
COVID-19 (TEMPORARY MEASURES)(CONTROL ORDER) REGULATIONS 2020

https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/COVID19TMA2020...s=P12-#pr4-
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Restrictions on leaving or entering place of residence
4.—
...
(3) An individual may leave the individual’s ordinary place of residence only to the extent necessary for any of the following purposes:
...
(d) to engage in any recreational activity in an open-air stadium, public path or public park alone or with any other individual who lives with the first mentioned individual;

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Example of proper Nparks signage which was placed at Bedok jetty (a chain fence was also laid across to prohibit entry to the jetty).
Suggestion for future signage if household frisbee games is disallowed is to use the term 'events, gatherings and group activities' (since gatherings is an arbitrary word and people will still share the same lawn for individual static exercises, albeit with social distancing measures). Notice for no kite flying and loitering should be added where appropriate too.