SMRT fined S$50,000 over graffiti incident
By Alicia Wong – February 14th, 2011

For its negligence, SMRT will have to pay the maximum fine of S$50,000 for the Changi Depot incident last year. On May 17, two foreign nationals entered the depot and sprayed graffiti on a train. Swiss national Oliver Fricker, who was caught, has served his jail term and been deported, while the second suspect, Briton Lloyd Dane Alexander, is still on the run.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA), which imposed the fine, said, “SMRT had not regularly inspected, continuously maintained and repaired its operating.” It found that SMRT had breached its obligations under the Licence & Operating Agreement, where it “failed to exercise due diligence and vigilance expected of a public transport operator”. “We acknowledge Land Transport Authority’s decision to impose a fine on SMRT for the security lapse, as provided under the Rapid Transit Systems Act,” said a SMRT spokesperson. Following the incident, it has stepped-up patrols and installed concertina wires around the perimeter fence of its depots. From late 2010, it has been putting in place longer-term measures such as installing galvanised weld mesh fencing, fence intrusion detection systems, extra perimeter lighting and CCTV.

Installation work will begin next month, the spokesperson told Yahoo! Singapore. “While we learn valuable lessons and move forward from this episode, SMRT will continue to strengthen security culture in our organisation to protect our premises and ensure the safety of our commuters.”

Meanwhile the Public Transport Security Committee (PTSC) has also completed its security review of the public transport network. It found “scope to enhance security at public transport facilities”, said LTA. A statement issued on Monday recommended more stringent perimeter security measures, such as steel welded mesh fencing, and increasing security patrols and checks at the depots. The committee noted that public transport operators had taken immediate steps to enhance the security at the MRT and bus depots after the Changi Depot incident.

Steps taken include increasing security personnel at the depots, increasing the frequency of security patrols and installing concertina wires to reinforce certain stretches of the perimeter fencing at all MRT depots.

The operators will also be implementing more stringent perimeter security measures at the depots, such as better guard posts and better lighting along the perimeter fence. More transit security officers will also be deployed to deter and detect suspicious items or activities.

To provide greater clarity on the security requirements for public transport operators, the security regulatory framework has been strengthened to specify their roles, said LTA. The PSTC will also issue a set of security guidelines and standards for the public transport operators.

Committee chairman Chew Hock Yong said, “The recommendations in this review by the PTSC are made with the objective of enhancing the level of public transport security in Singapore. SMRT and SBS Transit said they support the committee’s recommendations.

SBS Transit has enhanced its security measures since June last year, it said. This includes a 20 per cent increase in security guards and depots and more frquent patrols. More lights and CCTV cameras have also been installed and the perimeter fencing of bus depots have been replaced with steel welded mesh.