In response to my comment that our police are too free, given that they have time to investigate who put up harmless white elephant cutouts, come a dozen-strong in riot gear to chase off 4 silent protestors and keep requesting Martyn See to aid their investigations, my brother-in-law claimed that this was justified because they were responding to complaints made by members of the public. No doubt he would similarly justify police raids on gay spas.

So I suppose if a public-spirited member of the public decided to report his neighbor to the police for engaging in unnatural sex (don't ask) or report a fellow citizen for seditious remarks (like saying that Singapore is not ready for an Indian Prime Minister), I suppose they would be justified in storming these people's homes in riot gear to catch the felons.

If the same public-spirited person saw 5 kids playing in a playground, he would dial 999 and 15 riot police (you need at least 3 times as many police as criminals), responding to a complaint made by a member of the public, would come down and disperse the illegal assembly with tear gas.

An efficient police force which responds to all complaints made by our civic-minded citizens - that is what we all want.