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There is a particular kind of reassurance that comes not from what you see, but from what you don’t. For most Singaporeans, life goes on without any awareness of officers training relentlessly in the background, ready to respond the moment the ordinary tips into the extraordinary. That quiet, invisible line of defence has a name: the Police’s Special Operations Command (SOC).
At its helm is Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) Arthur Law, a veteran officer who joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 1995. He’s served across Ang Mo Kio Police Division, the Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) Unit, Police Headquarters and Central Police Division – where he was Deputy Commander during the 2013 Little India riot – before taking command of the SOC in 2020.
“There is never a dull moment,” he says.
Growing up, SAC Law had his sights set on a very different kind of career – he dreamed of becoming a movie director, but National Service (NS) had other plans. Serving with the Commandos gave him his first taste of high-stakes, disciplined teamwork and something about the work stuck. “After NS, I decided to join the SPF – mainly to be part of the STAR Unit,” he recalls. The intensity, the precision and the sense of purpose – it was, in many ways, the closest thing to the action he had always been drawn to, just on a very different kind of set.
SAC Law smiles at the full-circle nature of it all. “Looking back, my various postings had prepared me well for my job as Commander SOC.”
When the Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
The SOC is responsible for public order management, including the suppression of riots and unlawful assemblies; public security, covering high-profile deployments such as the National Day Parade; and counter-terrorism.
Its three primary line units – the STAR Unit, the Police Tactical Unit (PTU), and the Police K-9 Unit – operate independently day to day but come together when a coordinated response is required. The SOC also houses the Tactical Training School, which trains frontline officers across the SPF.
The incidents SOC deals with are rarely straightforward – barricaded subjects, armed or suicidal individuals, situations demanding specialist expertise and split-second decisions. “Every move is deliberate, every second counts. In SOC, there’s simply no margin for error,” SAC Law says. “Officers need to think on their feet and be decisive.”
Among his most unforgettable incidents was the Little India riot – a night that put SOC’s years of training to the ultimate test. At the time, SAC Law was Deputy Commander of Central Police Division, working alongside SOC to coordinate the deployment of officers on the ground. It was a stark reminder, he says, of why the relentless drilling and repetitive training that officers sometimes grow weary of can never be taken for granted.
“Before the Little India riot, many people might not have thought of how relevant or effective the PTU troops’ public order drills would be, especially when we had gone through decades of training with no incident,” he reflects. “We didn’t know when those skills and tactics would be needed then – and we certainly don’t know when the next crisis will come. But we have no excuse not to be ready.”
It is a conviction that shapes everything about how SOC trains and operates today.
Built for What’s Next
Staying ready, of course, means more than just training – it means having the right tools for the job. In recent years, SOC has made significant strides in modernising its operational capabilities. The command recently commissioned the Next-Generation Water Cannon and the Tactical Strike Vehicle – Riot Control System, both designed for public order situations and featuring extensive use of technology and digitalisation to enhance effectiveness on the ground.
Perhaps the most intriguing addition, however, is closer to the ground – literally. SOC is currently trialing a canine-mounted camera system that streams live visuals and audio from a K-9 dog’s perspective directly to an officer’s handheld monitor. In high-risk scenarios, it gives PTU officers a critical window into the unknown before they move in.
Equipment alone only goes so far. Keeping SOC’s officers at the peak of their operational readiness requires something no technology can replace. “To continually achieve training excellence day after day, year after year, requires determination, resilience and absolute dedication,” SAC Law says.
A common misconception, he notes, is that SOC officers simply stand by waiting for activation. “There’s a routine that dictates officers’ deployment for day-to-day counter-terrorism and anti-crime patrols. They’re subject to regular skills, tactics and fitness training regimes so that when they’re called upon, they’ll have what it takes.”
What makes him most proud when he looks at his officers? “Their perseverance, teamwork and constant strive for excellence. When they’re assigned a task, SOC officers know it’ll be a ‘no-fail’ mission. It’s a promise; a pride that they uphold,” he says.
The Man Behind the Rank
Off duty, SAC Law makes time for a run three times a week during lunch. He also enjoys watching Chinese drama series with his wife to unwind, while his comfort food is anything but typical. “Peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashew nuts, walnuts – I’m nuts about nuts,” he says with a laugh. He takes two cups of coffee a day, with a teh c siu dai for afternoons that need a little extra push.
No matter how demanding the day, he makes it home for dinner with his family. His wife has been a steadfast support throughout his career, and their three children have grown up understanding the demands of his work. “They’ve always been very supportive and I’m thankful for their consistent support all these years,” he says.
For a man who once dreamed of directing films, SAC Law has no regrets about the path he chose. His advice to those considering a career in policing is simple: “If you’re looking for a lifelong career that never bores you and takes care of you in different phases of your life – SPF is the right place for you.”
