Bekasi adopts 'koban' policing

Bekasi adopts 'koban' policing

Wahyuana , The Jakarta Post/Bekasi

As part of police reform, the Bekasi Police will establish two
new police posts this month, adopting the koban concept, which
originated in Japan.

"This project encourages closer relations between the police
and the community. We plan to have nine more koban next year. The
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will finance the
project," Bekasi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edward Syah Pernong
told The Jakarta Post recently.

"If this project succeeds, there will be dozens of koban in
Bekasi -- particularly in residential areas, industrial zones and
on commercial premises."

Koban are essentially one-room depots, which were introduced
for the first time in 1881, in Japan, to protect officers from
the elements. Koban are open around the clock, with police
officers working in three shifts, to fight crime and offer
assistance. Police duties include helping lost children and
giving street directions.

Koban have also been adopted by Singapore, Fiji and Brazil.

Project officer Supt. Iguchi Shigeo told the Post that there
are around 420 koban in Tokyo -- which has a population of around
7.98 million. A koban is located in every 1.5 kilometer radius
and responsible for the security and safety of around 19,000
residents.

Shigeo said the concept had successfully minimized the crime
rate in Japan's big cities.

The two koban to be built in Bekasi will be situated in front
of Giant hypermarket near the West Bekasi toll gate and in Pondok
Ungu housing complex, North Bekasi.

Each post is expected to serve between 300 and 500 families.
The post in Pondok Ungu will accommodate nine officers working in
three shifts, but the post in front of Giant will be used by up
to 15 officers.

At each koban a patrol car and two motorcycles will be on
standby. Each officer will have a walkie-talkie and access to the
koban's computer, telephone and facsimile facilities.

Shigeo said, according to Indonesia's neighborhood unit (RT)
and community unit (RW) system, ideally, each RW would have one
koban.

"In line with the concept of koban, police officers must
actively approach citizens. They must meet all residents on their
territory, and visit them at least twice a year to see how they
are doing," he said.

"The National Police have been under the military for a long
time. It will take a long time to change that perception because
the people here are afraid to deal with the police," he added.

Four Japanese senior police officers are in Bekasi to train
Bekasi Police officers.

Shigeo said the JICA has been working for two years to support
the police reform movement here, including the establishment of
koban.

"Next year, we will hand over communication radios for around
2,000 officers, so they can communicate directly with Bekasi
Police Headquarters," he said.

JICA will also award scholarships to 25 middle-ranked
officials to study law enforcement, DNA analysis and criminal
identification in Japan.

Odie, a resident, said he thought the project would benefit
the community.

"I think the koban concept is good. We can get to know the
police officers better. I just hope they don't sit there staring
at us, that would be plain scary."