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When Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Siti Haira Bte Batra reflects on her 30-year career with the Singapore Police Force (SPF), she speaks not just as a seasoned officer, but also as a trailblazer who has pushed boundaries whilst nurturing the next generation of women in policing.
Currently serving as Chief Investigation Officer (CIO) with the Traffic Police, DSP Siti Haira oversees the daily management of traffic accidents and serious traffic violation cases. “I supervise Investigation Officers, ensuring that every investigation adheres to the highest standards of protocol and efficiency,” she shares.
Yet, this demanding role represents just one aspect of her multifaceted career.
Special Duties
The Special Women Task Team (SWTT) comprises female officers from units across the SPF. Officers take on SWTT duties as a secondary appointment and are trained in specialised tactics (including passive resistance) to manage public order incidents, particularly when these involve vulnerable groups like women, children and the elderly.
In 2009, then Station Inspector Siti Haira volunteered to join the SWTT, driven by a desire to develop tactical specialisations. “SWTT duties lie in a completely different sphere from my CIO role,” she explains, “and developing this complementary skill-set has broadened my perspective and enhanced my operational competency.”
Today, she holds leadership positions within the SWTT – as a Team Leader and an Officer-in-Charge of Training. Her vast experience allows her to help officers, new and old, sharpen their operational capabilities. “The SWTT has become my family, and I feel a deep attachment to the unit,” she shares.
DSP Siti Haira’s roles as CIO and SWTT officer has created a unique professional dynamic. “The two positions require distinct yet complementary skill-sets,” she says. “I feel assured when leading operations due to my tactical and investigative knowledge, while serving as a CIO enables me to confidently oversee SWTT officers.”
Balancing Motherhood and Career
As a mother of two, DSP Siti Haira embodies the reality that many working mothers face – the constant balance between professional and family responsibilities. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, DSP Siti Haira’s message to her fellow officers is one of collective empowerment.
“Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience and limitless potential of women everywhere,” she says. “Support each other, explore new opportunities and confidently embrace diverse roles. When we lift one another, we become stronger and inspire the next generation of women to pursue their aspirations.”
DSP Siti Haira’s journey in the SPF illustrates that success in policing, as in life, comes not from following a predetermined path, but from embracing opportunities, supporting others and being committed to excellence. In celebrating her achievements, we celebrate the potential that exists within every female officer who’s ready to serve, protect and inspire.
