Our mission and role

Our mission

Our mission is to keep Singapore safe and sovereign for all Singaporeans. To do so, we collect accurate intelligence, make impartial assessments and take timely action to counter security threats to Singapore’s internal stability and sovereignty. We do this, without fear or favour, because we passionately believe that Singapore belongs to all its citizens regardless of colour or creed and that for a small, multi-racial city state, our collective survival hinges on continued stability and security.

In pursuing the critical role we play to safeguard Singapore’s survival, we constantly strive to attain professional excellence in our craft and shall not yield to contented mediocrity. We recognise the value of each individual but we value the Team above him for we know that our strength and resilience and therefore, our success, must ultimately stem from the unity and synergy of the Team.

Above all, therefore, we cherish the character qualities of Integrity, Courage, Loyalty, and Self-Sacrifice, for ours must always be a cause greater than our self.

Our role

ISD confronts and addresses threats to Singapore’s internal security and stability. For over 70 years, ISD and its predecessor organisations have played a central role in countering threats such as those posed by foreign subversive elements, spies, racial and religious extremists, and terrorists.

At the heart of our work are the collection of intelligence that enables us to size up the threats to Singapore’s internal security, and taking the executive actions necessary to overcome those threats. Every day, we collect and analyse intelligence, make impartial assessments, and take decisive action to counter the threats to Singapore’s internal security and stability, and sovereignty.