Advisory on the Implementation of TraceTogether-only SafeEntry Mode for Public Entertainment (PE) Venues and Update of Safe Management Measures for PE Venues
Implementation of TraceTogether-only SafeEntry Mode for PE Venues
1. The Ministerial Task Force (MTF) has announced that TraceTogether-only SafeEntry (TT-only SE) will be made mandatory at all venues at which SafeEntry must be deployed, after everyone who wants a TraceTogether Token has had a chance to collect one at a community club or centre in their constituencies. The exact date for which TT-only SE will be mandated will be announced in due course and could be as early as January 2021. When made mandatory, Category 3 PE-licensed venues that were permitted to resume operations must transit to TT-only SE.
[Note: TT-only SE will replace SafeEntry. Individuals entering premises where TT-only SE is implemented will have to use either their TraceTogether App or TraceTogether Token to check in. Foreigners who are pass holders can register for the TraceTogether app using their FIN and/or collect their TraceTogether tokens from designated collection points.]
2. While you are currently not required to activate TT-only SE yet, you are advised to implement TraceTogether Token check-in mode at your venues now, if you have not done so. This will ensure a smoother transition for your business when TT-only SE is mandated.
3. For a step-by-step guide to set up TraceTogether Token scanning for your venue using either the SafeEntry (Business) Mobile App on a smartphone or SafeEntry (Business) Web App on a laptop connected to a 2D scanner, you may refer to https://go.gov.sg/token-scanning. Should you encounter any problem, you can submit a helpdesk query through the SafeEntry website.
4. In addition, you may also make use of the available posters at https://go.gov.sg/ttonly-se-comms-kit to educate your staff and customers on the upcoming TT-only SE requirements.
5. Please update us via email at SPF_PLRD_PELLD@spf.gov.sg after you have implemented the Token check-in mode at your PE-licensed venue, and the date from which it was implemented.
Update of Safe Management Measures for PE Venues
6. The Safe Management Measures (SMMs) for Category 3 PE-licensed venues that were permitted to reopen have been updated, as attached in Annex A. The updates are highlighted in yellow, and cover the following key areas:
- Changes to the capacity limit of your venues and the maximum permissible group size that applies with the commencement of Phase 3 of reopening on 28 December 2020;
- Clarification on the requirement for SafeEntry to be implemented at your PE-licensed venue; and
- Clarification that venues that sell food and beverages (F&B) and allow on-site consumption of F&B must have a separate section for these F&B activities, where SMMs for F&B establishments will apply.
7. Other than the above, the additional measures in Annex B have also been updated; the updates are also highlighted in yellow. Operators are strongly encouraged to implement these additional measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission on their premises.
8. All operators of these PE venues must comply with the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 to provide a safe environment for all employees and customers. Operators should also refer to the following advisories and implement the appropriate measures:
- Workplace-specific SMMs issued by MOM at https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/requirements-for-safe-management-measures; and
- F&B and Retail (e.g. general safety and crowd management) issued by ESG, HDB, SFA, STB and URA at https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg/covid-19/safe-distance and https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/sector/.
9. Nightlife public entertainment venues must continue to remain closed, unless they have been selected to participate in the small-scale pilots led by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Nightlife establishments that wish to pivot to other permitted businesses or exit the industry may visit https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/faq for more information on the support provided.
Liability and Responsibility of Licensees
10. PE operators who do not comply with the above requirements may be liable for an offence under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 and may face a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both, for the first offence. Higher penalties of a fine of not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or both, will apply for subsequent offences. Failure to comply with these requirements may also result in ineligibility for any Government support, such as rental rebates and wage support.
11. PE operators should also ensure that the requirements under the Public Entertainments Act, the rules and regulations made thereunder, and all licensing conditions imposed, are strictly complied with at all times. Any non-compliance with the relevant laws may result in regulatory action, including but not limited to prosecution and revocation of the PE licence.
12. Licensees are encouraged to regularly check the following websites and Regulation for the prevailing SMMs that apply for your venues:
- GoBusiness website at https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/sector/;
- SPF website at https://www.police.gov.sg/e-Services/Police-Licences/Public-Entertainment-Licence; and
- the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.
Contact Information
13. For further queries, please contact the Police Licensing & Regulatory Department at Tel: 6835 0000 or via email at SPF_PLRD_PELLD@spf.gov.sg.
Dear Customers,
With effect from 23 April 2020, the Police Licensing & Regulatory Department will restrict over-the-counter services at the Police Cantonment Complex, 391 New Bridge Road, to attend only to services with pre-approved appointments. This move supports the Multi-Ministry Taskforce’s implementation of elevated safe distancing measures.
2. To make an appointment, please use the following link or QR code: www.picktime.com/policelicensing
3. We will attend to cases of persons who turn up without an appointment on a case-by-case basis, only if they have valid reasons, such as to make payment for services that cannot be done online. For collection of controlled item(s), please pay the license fee for the item(s) (if any) online, and email us at SPF_Licensing_Feedback@spf.gov.sg to arrange for collection.
4. Please use our online services on www.police.gov.sg/licence or email us at SPF_Licensing_Feedback@spf.gov.sg. Members of the public are advised to stay home and avoid going out. Please wear a mask when outside your homes, in accordance with the prevailing circuit breaker measures.
5. We seek your understanding for the change and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
6. Thank you.
A Public Entertainment or Arts Entertainment licence is required (unless exempted) for any entertainment that is provided in any place to which the public has access.
Details of the different categories and types of Public Entertainment licence and fees can be found here.
For information on exemption from a Public Entertainment Licence, click here
To be eligible for a Public Entertainment licence, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a fit and proper person. The criteria and requirements for a person to be considered fit and proper to hold a licence include are (but are not limited to) whether the relevant person has honesty, integrity, a good reputation, competence and capability. For more information, you may click on the link: “Guidelines on the criteria and requirements for a person to be fit and proper to hold a public entertainment licence.”
- Be a Singapore Citizen, a Singapore Permanent Resident or possess a valid work permit or employment pass if you are a foreigner
- Be at least a committee member if you are applying on behalf of societies registered with the Registry of Societies
- Be a director of the company, a partner of the Partnership, Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships or the sole proprietor
- Register the company/business with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
Responsibility of the Organiser
As the organiser, you are to conduct your event in a socially responsible manner and ensure that it does not cause any danger or undue alarm to the general public. Due considerations are to be taken to ensure all aspects of public safety, security, law and order are not compromised in the organisation of and during the event, and that the event activities do not contravene any legislation. If in doubt, you should seek your own legal counsel.
Sunk Investment Not Ground For Grant of Licence
Sunk investments e.g. renovation, purchase of equipment, rental of premise are not grounds for a licence to be granted. You should ensure that you have obtained the necessary Public Entertainment licence/ approval before starting renovation works or use the premises. Hence, you should consider the financial commitment to your business carefully if a licence/exemption has yet been granted. The following highlights two important considerations that you should take note before submitting an application to operate a Public Entertainment outlet.
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Suitability of Location
Existence of Public Entertainment outlets in the vicinity of a proposed location does not automatically indicate that your application would be approved as other factors such as the law and order situation are taken into consideration when assessing your application.
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Charging of Processing Fees by URA and HDB
Although processing fees will be charged by URA and HDB for their planning permission/approval (where applicable), the planning permission/approval granted by these authorities does not guaranteethe approval of your Public Entertainment licence.
|
Type |
Activity |
Licensing Conditions |
Guidelines |
|
Establishment licence |
Nightclubs, cabarets, discotheques, bars, lounges and other public houses (with noise protocol)
|
Click here |
Click here |
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Nightclubs, cabarets, discotheques, bars, lounges and other public houses (with noise protocol and CCTV)
|
Click here |
||
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Bars, lounges and other public houses (with noise protocol)
|
Click here |
||
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Amusement centre
|
Click here |
Click here |
|
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Billiard saloon
|
Click here |
Click here |
|
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Computer games centre
|
Click here |
Click here |
|
|
Shop operating crane/ game machines
|
Click here |
Click here |
|
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Paintball centre
|
Click here |
Not applicable |
|
|
Ad-hoc licence |
Examples: Transmission of recorded music without dancing by customers, performances involving music, singing or dancing as well as providing game machine
|
Click here |
Click here |
Applicants may wish to note that a new Public Entertainment licence is unlikely to be granted at the following locations. This is to manage the number of Public Entertainment establishments and mitigate law and order concerns in the areas:
- Orchard Towers
- Orchard Plaza
- Cuppage Plaza
- Parklane Shopping Mall
- Geylang
- Joo Chiat
A Public Entertainment licence is also unlikely to be granted at the following Historic Conservation Areas because URA intends to maintain the character and ambience of these areas.
- Chinatown
- Little India
- Kampong Glam
- Boat Quay
- Blair Plain
- Cairnhill
- Emerald Hill
Before an amusement game machine is imported into Singapore, an approval to import and operate such machines is required from the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department (PLRD). Importers of such machines should submit their applications to PLRD for approval at least six (6) weeks before the arrival of goods in Singapore.
For the purpose of PLRD’s assessment, the following are required:
- The applicant is required to submit pictures, specifications and URL link of the gameplay video (including description of gameplay and name of the game machine) of the amusement game machine(s);
- The applicant is also required to obtain a declaration from IMDA for video exemption. Please visit the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) website for more info.https://imdaonline.imda.gov.
sg/onlineservices/indexInet1. aspx
Upon approval of this application, you may then proceed to apply for the importation of the said amusement game machines into Singapore through TRADENET. PLRD will be notified to endorse our approval in TRADENET as the Competent Authority (CA) for the amusement game machines. Once the TRADENET application is completed and approved, the game machines will be released to you.
For more information on the importation of amusement game machines, please visit the Singapore Customs website at https://www.customs.gov.sg/
Clients will then need to apply for a PE licence should they wish to operate such machines for public use. Game machine importers who knowingly supply game machines to clients who operate the game machines without the necessary PE licences may be investigated for abetting the offence. Any person who provides or assists in providing any public entertainment without a licence issued under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
You can request for a replacement copy of your existing Public Entertainment licence in person at Police Licensing & Regulatory Department.
You will need to pay $11.00 for each new copy.
Address: 391 New Bridge Road Block D
#02-701
Police Cantonment Complex
Singapore 088762
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday (closed on Public Holidays)
8.30am to 5.30pm (last Q-ticket is issued at 5.00pm)
New and Renew
You can submit a new public entertainment licence (establishment licence or ad-hoc licence) or renew your existing public entertainment licence.
Amend Licence Details
You can make the following amendments to your existing Public Entertainment licence:
- Company Name
- Downgrade & Upgrade of Category
- Establishment Name
- Extend or Reduce the Premises
- Key Appointment Holders
- Licensee
- Mailing Address
- Operating Hours
Cancel Licence
You are permitted to cancel your existing Public Entertainment Licence any time before its expiration.
Please be informed that there will be no refund upon cancellation of the existing Liquor licence.
Withdrawal
You can withdraw your applications for any Public Entertainment Licence any time before licence approval.
If licence has been approved and issued, you will have to submit a request to cancel the licence.
You are required to obtain the following documents before applying for any Public Entertainment licence.
- Approval from HDB (if supplying liquor at the premises);
- Planning permission on the land use of the premise from URA, SLA or HDB; and
- Registry of Societies certificate (if applying on behalf of societies).
About 3 weeks from the receipt of the application and the necessary supporting documents, if required. Any incomplete or incorrect submission will be rejected.
You will be notified of the outcome via SMS, email and post. Alternatively, you can login to GoBusiness Licensing to view your application status.
You will be directed to GoBusiness Licensing webpage which will require you to sign in using your SingPass or CorpPass.
The process may take around 15-20 minutes to complete.
Licensees may wish to note that the accumulation of demerit points may result in the following regulatory action(s) to be taken:
|
Accumulated DPs* |
Description of Regulatory Actions |
|
At least 15 |
1-hour licence hours curtailment for a period of one month |
|
At least 18 |
2-hour licence hours curtailment for a period of one month |
|
At least 21 |
Suspension of licence for a period of one month |
|
At least 24 |
Cancellation of licence |
*Calculated according to Rule 6 of the Public Entertainments (Demerit Points) Rules 2017
You will need to have the infringement number before making payment, which will require you to login using SingPass or CorpPass. The whole process may take about 10 mins. Click here to make payment.
The information on this page shows additional information related to Public Entertainment licence.
If you are familiar with the application requirements and wish to apply now, please click here to proceed. SingPass or CorpPass is required for login to GoBusiness Licensing.