Go behind the scenes of Singapore’s very own crime prevention series, where officers solve crimes, bring offenders to justice and share essential crime prevention tips.
By: Leow Su Ling and Low Ee Ching
Did you know that Crimewatch premiered on this day 37 years ago? On 30 November 1986, the first episode of Crimewatch appeared on television to a rapt audience of 1.3 million viewers!
Over the decades, Crimewatch has evolved with the times (and crimes), but many things about it have remained constant. From the start, the series has been produced by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force (SPF). Every episode also features a real Police case with insights shared by the Investigation Officers (IOs) who worked on it. Finally, the series has remained popular and relevant across generations by focusing on sharing timely crime prevention advisories with viewers.
Ask any avid Crimewatcher and he or she will tell you that the series remains an important platform for learning about crimes of the day, delivered with a unique Singaporean flavour. Another highlight? The chance to see real Police officers in action, either as hosts – a feature that has remained unchanged from the very first episode – or as part of the cast!
What does it take to produce an episode of Crimewatch? Police Life joins the production team to see what goes on behind the scenes!
Setting the Stage
Crimewatch cases are selected to highlight crimes of concern, in order to raise public awareness of them. The preproduction process for each episode begins with meetings between the Mediacorp production team and IOs to find out the facts, offences and sentences of the featured case.
After a quick round of introductions, the production team asks about key details of the case. The IOs, in turn, share gripping anecdotes, painting a vivid picture of the investigative process and their pursuit of justice. This helps the production team craft an engaging and informative script that accurately depicts major aspects of the case.
Ready, Roll Sound, Action!
Once the script has been reviewed, the cast selected and shooting venues confirmed, it’s time to roll! The production team’s dedication shines through the way they find innovative ways to communicate key messages and compose the shots. Under the scorching sun or late into the night, they work hard to bring the story to life. You may even have seen the production team in action, shooting scenes in your very own neighbourhood.
Over the decades, Crimewatch has undergone a number of changes in format, tone and style, in response to crime prevention needs and the media consumption patterns of viewers. Each season is unlike the one that came before, but what remains paramount is the commitment of the NCPC and SPF to share crime prevention messages with a broad range of viewers.
Since 2018, another vital component of Crimewatch has been the Scam Alert segment that closes each episode. The segment focuses on raising awareness of the latest scam trends, sharing key messages like “Add, Check, Tell” and encouraging viewers to download the ScamShield app – please do so if you haven’t already!
The Faces of Crimewatch
Another unique feature of Crimewatch is that it features real Police officers as hosts. Drawn from various Police units, they share the outcome of each case, offer timely crime prevention advisories and serve as a powerful demonstration of the Police’s commitment to safeguarding every day – in all four official languages! Police Life meets three of our dedicated Police presenters to hear more about their experiences on set, in their own words.
Superintendent of Police Arun Guruswamy
I was a fan of Crimewatch before I became a host as I liked to watch all the interesting cases and how Police solved them. Thus, it was very meaningful for me to be able to start hosting Crimewatch in 2013 as a secondary appointment and represent the SPF to the Tamil-speaking community.
My family and friends were pleasantly surprised when they saw me hosting Crimewatch. Nowadays, if they don’t see me in an episode, they’ll ask why I’m not hosting!
The team behind Crimewatch works incredibly hard, from the producer, director and scriptwriter right down to the cinematographer, soundman and lighting crew. The whole team is bubbly and jovial, which makes me look forward to every shoot. Thanks to my experience as a host on Crimewatch, my Tamil has also improved tremendously!
Superintendent of Police Koh Chao Rong
Growing up, I recall watching Crimewatch and being awed by the Police hosts in their smart uniforms telling us how they solved intriguing local cases. Every episode is unique and holds special meaning for the officers who solved the crime.
I started hosting Crimewatch in Chinese in 2016. What always perks me up are the warm greetings and enthusiastic waves from members of the public during our outdoor shoots. Once, when I was visiting a school in my capacity as the Commanding Officer of Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre, a student recognised me as a Crimewatch host and came up to tell me that he was inspired to join the SPF after watching Crimewatch.
It’s heartwarming to know the impact we can have as hosts, and it motivates me to do better! I treasure the partnership we have with the NCPC and production team, and I look forward to many more great episodes. It’s a privilege to be able to play my part and continue the good work of fellow officers in helping Crimewatch remain one of our most popular local TV shows.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Azlinda Aziz
I watched Crimewatch and Triple Nine in my younger days and found the reenactment of investigations captivating, which drew me into wanting to know more about the SPF. Now, it’s also one of my family’s favourite programmes, so watching it together is quality time for us.
I first got involved with Crimewatch in 2013 when I acted as a Police officer in an episode. I started hosting from 2015 until 2019, and will be making a return in 2024. Hosting is very meaningful to me because I get to build trust in the SPF’s policing efforts.
Once, a group of aunties saw us filming at a void deck and asked to take photos with the Crimewatch hosts. They were so happy and stayed on to watch for quite a while. Other memorable moments include the script-reading practice sessions with our Malay producer, Mr Johari Abdul Aziz. He’s very professional and I look forward to working with him during shoots. I also want to thank the production team for their patience and support!
Thank you for supporting 37 years of Crimewatch! Together, we can keep Singapore safe and secure. Until next time, do your part to prevent, deter and detect crimes.
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