The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA; ; ; ), sometimes referred to as the Home Team, is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for overseeing the national security, public security, civil defence, border control and immigration of Singapore.
History
The Ministry of Home Affairs was created in 1959 when Singapore attained self-governance from the United Kingdom. The ministry was housed at the Empress Place Building until 16 September 1963, when Singapore joined Malaysia and internal affairs became a federal responsibility.
After gaining independence on 9 August 1965 from Malaysia, the ministry returned to the Empress Place Building under the purview of the Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID). MID stayed there for several months before it was relocated to Pearl's Hill (former Lower Barracks of Police).
On 11 August 1970, the Ministry of Interior and Defence was separated into two ministries, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). MHA remained at Pearl's Hill until August 1977 when it moved to Phoenix Park at Tanglin Road.
MHA, together with Police Headquarters, moved to its new premises at New Phoenix Park on 18 August 2001.
Organisational structure
Home Team Departments
The Ministry of Home Affairs consists of the following seven departments:
Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Home Team Academy (HTA) Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Internal Security Department (ISD) Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Singapore Police Force (SPF) Singapore Prison Service (SPS)
Statutory Boards
Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) Yellow Ribbon Singapore
Committees/Councils
Presidential Council for Religious Harmony
National Crime Prevention Council
National Council Against Drug Abuse
National Fire and Civil Emergency Preparedness Council
Ministers
The Ministry is headed by the Minister for Home Affairs, who is appointed as part of the Cabinet of Singapore. The incumbent minister is MP for Nee Soon GRC K. Shanmugam from the People's Action Party.