Nation's crime rate down in 1997<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's crime rate may have dropped this
\nyear but National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo warned yesterday
\nthat growing economic hardship could push the rate up in 1998.<\/p>\n
The number of crimes reported to police fell by more than 8
\npercent this year to 134,892 offenses from 147,144 last year,
\nDibyo said during a yearend presentation of the 1997 Crime Index.<\/p>\n
\"A crime is committed every three minutes and 53 seconds,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Greater Jakarta, with a population of more than 13 million,
\nhas the highest number of reported crimes with 19,432 cases. West
\nJava, East Java, Central Java and North Sumatra ranked next with
\n18,942, 18,322, 9,856 and 9,746 cases respectively.<\/p>\n
Bengkulu has the lowest number of reported crimes with 844
\ncases, followed by Central Kalimantan and Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The crime rate -- number of crimes compared to the population
\n-- reveals a different picture.<\/p>\n
Topping the list is North Sulawesi, East Timor and then
\nGreater Jakarta. Central Java and Lampung are considered the
\nleast prone to crime.<\/p>\n
Dibyo was quick to caution the public from embracing the
\nfigures with too much optimism, saying the crime rate could
\nincrease in 1998.<\/p>\n
The monetary upheavals have disrupted people's lives, with
\nprice increases for basic commodities, rescheduling of government
\nprojects and the problems facing many middle and small
\nentrepreneurs, he said.<\/p>\n
\"These in turn will affect public security and order. We have
\nto become more vigilant. The public must be prepared for the
\npossibility that certain parties will take advantage of this
\nprecarious condition.\"<\/p>\n
The growing unemployment rate, for example, could lead to
\nincreases in burglary, robbery and car theft. There could also be
\na growth in white collar crimes.<\/p>\n
Political-related crimes, especially riots and acts of
\nsubversion, could increase next year in the run up to and wake of
\nthe general session of the People's Consultative Assembly in
\nMarch, he said.<\/p>\n
This year, there were 353 strikes and 508 riots nationwide.
\nThe gatherings were held by the general public (395 incidents),
\nstudents (379) and public transport drivers (360).<\/p>\n
Dibyo promised that police personnel would do their utmost to
\nfight crime in the new year.<\/p>\n
Burglary topped the list of crimes committed this year with
\n39,812 reported incidents, down from 44,461 in 1996. Car theft
\nfollowed with 16,201 offenses, down from 17,714 in 1996.<\/p>\n
The only types of crime to increase this year were fires,
\ncurrency forgery and drug offenses.<\/p>\n
\"The number of bogus money-related cases almost doubled to 465
\ncases from only 256 last year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The number of drug-related offenses rose 55 percent to 1,316,
\nsignaling that Indonesia has become a potential market for
\ninternational drug syndicates and no longer simply a transit
\npoint, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We arrested 157 suspects, including 37 foreigners from
\ncountries like Nigeria, Britain, Ghana, Pakistan and Thailand.\"<\/p>\n
He said 11,549 people died in road accidents compared to
\n10,983 in 1996. The number of accidents also increased to 15,508
\nfrom 14,722 accidents, with most attributed to reckless driving.<\/p>\n
Of the 134,892 offenses reported this year, police managed to
\nsolve 82,241, or nearly 61 percent, Dibyo said.<\/p>\n
\"The police always strive to do their best to fulfill their
\nduties.\" (cst)<\/p>\n
Safe -- Page 3<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nations-crime-rate-down-in-1997-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }