Singapore Prison Service Introduces PROTECT to Enhance Prison Safety and Security

Singapore, 3 September 2026 – The Singapore Prison Service (SPS), in collaboration with HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency), has developed PROTECT^[1], an autonomous robotic unit designed to strengthen SPS's operational capabilities by supporting officers in supervision, surveillance, and incident response.

Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Prison Operations

2.                   The development of PROTECT is part of SPS's broader technology transformation strategy to deploy new technologies and capabilities across its institutions By supporting officers in routine supervision, surveillance and incident response, PROTECT enhances SPS's ability to detect and respond to incidents more effectively, reinforcing the safety of both officers and inmates. This creates a more conducive environment for rehabilitation and enables officers to devote more time to meaningful inmate engagement.

3.                   Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Ridley Lim, Staff Officer (Future Operations) from Operations Division, SPS, said, “Technology is an important force multiplier for SPS. PROTECT not only enhances SPS’s operational capabilities but also lays the foundation for broader robotics adoption across the service."

Enhancing Supervision and Surveillance

4.                   PROTECT can patrol autonomously along predefined routes. Its Artificial Intelligence-enabled navigation capabilities allow it to detect and manoeuvre around obstacles, while its anti-tampering system alerts officers to any interference or damage. Officers at the Correctional Unit Control Centre maintain oversight and can assume control remotely, when necessary.

5.                   During patrols, PROTECT streams live video and audio to officers at the Correctional Unit Control Centre, extending surveillance beyond areas monitored by fixed closed-circuit television cameras. These live streams provide officers with greater situational awareness and complement the physical presence of officers on the ground.

6.                   Peng Chongtian, Lead Engineer from Robotics, Automation & Unmanned Systems Centre of Expertise, HTX, said “Building PROTECT from the ground up started with understanding the realities of prison operations and designing the system around them. Working closely with SPS, we shaped and refined PROTECT based on operational feedback, turning an initial concept into a robotic system purpose-built for the prison environment. This close collaboration has been key to bringing PROTECT from concept to trial.”

Supporting Incident Response

7.                   When incidents such as altercations between inmates or other situations requiring officers' intervention are detected, an officer at the Correctional Unit Control Centre can deploy PROTECT to the scene to provide targeted live video and audio feeds. Its near 360-degree view enables real-time assessment, while its two-way communication capabilities allow officers to issue verbal commands remotely.

8.                   Should inmates fail to comply with officers’ lawful instructions, an officer may, where necessary, activate PROTECT’s interdiction capabilities, such as a Long-Range Acoustic Device, light distraction device or irritant spray, in accordance with established rules of engagement, remotely. These capabilities enable officers to respond progressively and proportionately to the nature and severity of the incident, while retaining full responsibility for all operational decisions and follow-up actions.

9.                   By extending surveillance coverage and providing officers with greater situational awareness and additional response options, PROTECT enables officers to respond to incidents quickly and effectively. It complements SPS's existing response capabilities while reducing the need for officers to immediately enter the incident area, thereby enhancing officers’ safety.

Supporting Future Prison Operations

10.               PROTECT forms part of SPS's broader technology transformation strategy to deploy new technologies and capabilities across its institutions. New systems will be fully tested and integrated into operations to strengthen safety and security while supporting officers in their correctional duties.

11.               Technology will continue to support SPS in safeguarding prison security and enhancing rehabilitation outcomes. By complementing officers in routine supervision, surveillance and incident response, technologies such as PROTECT enhance SPS's ability to detect and respond to incidents effectively, enabling officers to devote more time to direct inmate engagement and rehabilitation efforts. As SPS adopts new technologies, officers will remain at the centre of prison operations and decision-making.

[1] PROTECT stands for Prisons RObot To Eradicate Conflicts and Threats