“We live in a haven built with the strengths of those who came before us and it is our duty to preserve their legacy and ensure the safety of our future generations so that they can live in peace. “Our Singapore today is one of the safest countries in the world, but our peace and security have not been achieved without effort. Since our transition from the beginnings of colonial rule from a trading port to a first world state, the success of our history has depended heavily on the peace and security of the lives of our citizens in this small nation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayOften, most of our generation – born in an era where domestic security was predominant – is more likely to forget the sacrifices made by our predecessors who laid the foundations of the first country in the world that we live in today. Only through the study of history will we come to understand the countless trials they so willingly faced in order to ensure the stability and future of our nation. Reflecting on the lessons learned from the Singapore Police Heritage Centre, I was intrigued by the story of the birth and transformation of our Singapore Police Force and how many heroic individuals dedicated their life to forge a society where she is a citizen, without distinction of race or religion. — could live harmoniously in peace. Starting from a small force of 12 staff, including the Commander, Chief Constable Francis James Bernard, the tremendous growth of our Singapore Police Force is as astonishing as it is admirable. Singapore's first police office was located in the residence of the then police chief, Francis James Bernard. It was built on the south bank of the Singapore River in 1823 with a custom-built basement prison for criminals. Although insignificant in size and capacity, it was the beginning of an administration whose aim was to establish law and order in the country. As Singapore's population grew with the influx of immigrants and the spread of settlements, more police departments had to be created to specialize in various other responsibilities. For example, the Maritime Police, consisting of two sampans and a force of 15 men, was established in 1824 to combat maritime piracy, the detective branch – which was later renamed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations – was established in 1886 to suppress secret societies. , the Police Coast Guard established in 1916 as well as the Criminal Intelligence Department in 1925. Singapore's history of violent crime dates back to the first Hokkien-Teochew riots involving more than 5,000 people in May 1854, which began with the simple price of a bag of rice and led to the death of 500 people and damage to 300 houses over a period of 10 days. Unfortunate as it was, the riot further illustrated how the original police force was incapable of handling such conflicts arising from the growth of secret societies. Then there were the Hock Lee bus riots in May 1955, which left 4 people dead and 31 injured, and more recently the Little India riots in December 2013, with a staggering crowd of over 400 people, making 18 injured. The case studies of these crimes further amplify the important role that the Singapore Police Force plays in safeguarding peace in this country. The factors that contributed to the rapid growth of secret societies were primarily the government's lack of resources to suppress heinous and audacious crimes committed in broad daylight, with little respect for the..