February 18, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 16, 1423

SINGAPORE, Feb 17: Singapore police will use mobile phone text message alerts and neighbourhood watch teams as part of an intensified effort to fight the threat of terrorism, a report said on Monday.

Police are working on a mobilization system to use the highly popular short message service (SMS) to activate volunteers during emergencies to help with crowd control, or evacuations, in situations such as bomb threats or fires, the Straits Times daily reported.

SMS is better than using a fixed line phone, which is labour-intensive, slow and subject to error when messages are relayed from person to person, said Senior Minister of State Ho Peng Kee.

The Neighbourhood Watch Zone scheme was set up in 1997, encouraging residents to fight crime in their neighbourhoods.

Mr. Ho said he wants Singapore citizens to be the “eyes and ears” for the police.—dpa