Internal Security Department (Singapore)


The Internal Security Department is a domestic intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore. It has the utmost right to detain without trial individuals suspected to be a threat to national security.
The stated mission is to confront and address security threats, including international terrorism, foreign subversion and espionage. The ISD also monitors and addresses potential threats from communism, prevention of racial tension which might affect the public peace, domestic counterterrorism, international counterterrorism, fraud against the state, surveillance, apprehension of suspected militants or terrorists and protection of Singapore's national borders.
Most of its manpower is drawn from the Singapore Police Force.

History

ISD was first established as part of the Special Branch in 1948 by the British colonial government. In 1963, it became part of the Malaysian Special Branch when Singapore joined Malaysia. After Singapore gained independence, Internal Security Department was formally established on 17 February 1966. It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence until it was split on 11 August 1970.
In 2004, it was placed under the National Security Coordination Secretariat to improve intelligence sharing with other national intelligence agencies.

Legislation

The powers of investigation and arrest of the ISD are regulated by several laws, including:
These events are related to ISD and internal security of Singapore.
The identity of ISD's director is not conspicuously made known to the public, until he relinquishes the post. Many of ISD's former directors went on to take up higher offices, including: