Three things you always wanted to know about Crimewatch!
By: Mike Tan
You’ve seen our officers crack the case and bring offenders to justice, presented with a dash of local flavour. That’s right, there’s no other show like Crimewatch, now in its 39th year and still going strong!
But have you ever wondered what it takes to bring Singapore’s favourite crime prevention programme to our screens? What really goes on behind the scenes? Here are three things that you always wanted to know about Crimewatch!
1. Each episode is based on an actual Police case.
It’s February and we’re in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown, shooting the second episode of Crimewatch 2025. It’s based on a 2024 cheating case involving fake gold ingots that was carried out by three offenders.
The production team has set up inside a jewellery shop to re-enact the scene where a woman brings an ingot to be appraised – only to discover it’s fake. The camera operator adjusts the lights while the soundman mics up the actors. After a quick rehearsal, the director calls “Action!”
In the actual case, the three offenders spun a tall tale about the fake gold ingots to cheat their victim. But officers from Central Police Division were on their trail and arrested them within 13 hours.
The episode’s factual basis is part of Crimewatch’s DNA. The production team works closely with Police representatives and Investigation Officers (IOs) to understand how the case unfolded. This commitment to the facts is what makes Crimewatch uniquely grounded, relevant and entertaining – each episode delivers genuine stories with real impact and invaluable crime prevention lessons!
2. Cases are adapted for focus and clarity.
But how does the production team adapt actual cases for television? This process requires care and consideration.
It’s April and we’re in a shopping mall in Woodlands, prepping to shoot the third episode of Crimewatch 2025. Inside a trading card shop, a young collector talks about buying cards online, his passion leading him toward a deal that proves too good to be true. After a solid take, the camera person moves to a series of close-up shots.
This episode is based on a 2022 case involving criminal breach of trust and providing false information to a public servant. To learn how the investigation proceeded, the production team met with IOs from Woodlands Police Division, hearing directly from them about how they interviewed witnesses and pieced together evidence to build an airtight case.
The episode captures their meticulous work but makes adaptations for clarity and conciseness. For example, key details are selected from the extensive case notes while only a small number of victims are shown, to maintain dramatic focus. The result is short, sharp storytelling that’s classic Crimewatch.
3. Crimewatch features real Police facilities and uniformed officers.
One question viewers often ask is whether the cast are real officers and the venues actual Police facilities. The answer is – it depends!
It’s May and the production team is filming the fourth episode of Crimewatch 2025. The scene shows two IOs from the Unlicensed Moneylending Task Force (UMSF) working on a 2023 case. Someone’s been using her TikTok account to post ads on behalf of an unlicensed moneylender, trapping victims in a cycle of debt and harassment.
After the first take, the Police representative on-set offers guidance on a point of Police procedure before the director calls “Action” again. It’s a solid second take by the excellent cast!
While the IOs for this episode are portrayed by actors Benjamin Heng and Liew Ai Wen, the scene itself is being shot at the Police Cantonment Complex, home to the UMSF and other specialist Police units. That’s right, we’re shooting inside an authentic Police workspace!
And even though IOs, victims, witnesses and offenders are now drawn from Singapore’s pool of talented actors, what hasn’t changed is that every uniformed officer that appears on Crimewatch is an actual officer.
Deployed from Land Divisions and other Police units, these officers often undertake Crimewatch duties between their regular duties, and are happy to step up to make the programme even more authentic.
And, of course, all our fantastic Police hosts – one of the signature aspects of Crimewatch since its debut in November 1986 – are actual officers!
This balance of fact with drama is central to Crimewatch’s continuing appeal. While the programme’s concept and format has evolved over the course of four decades, it has never lost its singular focus on crime prevention and keeping things real.
Crimewatch 2025, Episode 2: Cheating
All that glitters is not gold... An unsuspecting TCM shop owner is scammed by a trio, losing $4,000 on fake gold ingots. Watch how officers from Central Police Division track down the suspects with the use of PolCam.
Crimewatch 2025, Episode 3: Criminal Breach of Trust; Providing False Information to a Public Servant
When fast fads lead us to lower our guard… Trading card collectors fall victim to an online seller who then makes a false Police report to cover his tracks. Here’s how officers from Woodlands Police Division piece together the case.
Crimewatch 2025, Episode 4: Assisting with Unlicensed Moneylending
A domestic worker falls into a web of deception after borrowing from a seemingly legit online moneylender – only to find herself trapped. Watch how officers from Unlicensed Moneylending Strike Force connect the dots to prevent further offences.
Explore Our Content
Editor's Pick
