Police object to TV crime shows<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Annoyed with the content of the increasing number of crime shows
\nthat are aired on almost all of the 10 television channels, the
\nNational Police issued a circular on March 30 to the TV stations
\nand police headquarters in all provinces to discourage television
\nstations from joining police operations.<\/p>\n
The circular stated that the police objected to the violence
\nbeing highlighted in the shows and also the way their officers
\nacted in an "arrogant" way.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said on Monday
\nthat the police would never prohibit reporters from joining the
\npolice operations, despite the circular.<\/p>\n
"We only ask the electronic media not to show brutality and
\nobscene material n their programs. We have received many
\ncomplaints from the public about the shows that focus more on
\npolice brutality.<\/p>\n
"If reporters and cameramen (from TV stations) join our
\noperation, they can also educate the public. Actually, we can
\ntake the advantage of the shows as the public will understand
\npolice work better. We don't just sit here doing nothing," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Prasetyo added that the Press Law stated that the media also
\nhad a role in educating the people. Therefore, the police asked
\nthe media to heed the law.<\/p>\n
"We can only appeal to them. The Press Council is the sole
\nbody that has the authority to rebuke the media for depicting
\nviolence and obscene material," he said.<\/p>\n
Almost all 10 private TV stations run reality shows on crime
\nand police operations. The shows carry a similar content,
\nfocusing on violence, the condition of the victims and arrested
\nsex workers who appear half naked. The shows are aired at
\ndifferent times, including the time when children would still be
\nawake.<\/p>\n
A local TV drama star recently said in an infotainment program
\nthat she lost her appetite during lunch after she saw a program
\non TV that showed an aborted fetus.<\/p>\n
Many people have expressed similar feelings in the print
\nmedia, objecting to such shows.<\/p>\n
Despite many complaints received by the police and published
\nin letters to the editor in newspapers, crime shows still get
\nhigh viewer ratings.<\/p>\n
"In a seminar last year, producers of such crime shows said
\nthat the programs contributed significantly in covering the high
\noperational cost of private televisions," Prasetyo said. "But
\nplease remember, programs should be educative. If they work just
\nfor profit, it is not right."<\/p>",
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