Cops focus on curbing robbery

Evi Mariani, Jakarta

Newly installed Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani told reporters on Friday he would equip detectives with cross-country motorcycles to boost their speed and agility in an effort to curb rising crime in the capital.

"I have studied the city's crime rate and I have noticed that robberies are on the rise," he said. "It is very important for the police to curb such crimes in a quick and professional manner."

Police earlier warned that robberies targeting motorcycles, houses and public transportation were on the rise.

In June alone, four major robberies took place in plush housing complexes in South Jakarta. The number of motorcycle- jacking on the streets has also risen, with police recording 40 cases in the first quarter of the year.

Against the growing rate of crime, independent watchdog Police Watch released a report earlier this month showing the police force scoring low in crime resolution.

The report stated that between July 2003 and May 2004, 20,904 reports were filed by members of the public, of which police had only solved 19.3 percent.

Firman did not explain how he would finance the procurement of the cross-country motorcycles, and only said he "would seek any means available".

So far, only Mobile Brigade officers are assigned such motorcycles.

"Another measure is to revive the People's Security at the community unit level," Firman said, referring to a police-trained neighborhood patrol unit (Kamra) comprising civilians. He added Kamra would be set up within the next three months.

Firman said the weakness of the current neighborhood watch scheme was that it required residents, including those who worked during the day, to conduct night patrols of their neighborhood.

As the scheme was ineffective, a neighborhood needed to hire extra security.

"One community unit can hire 10 Kamra members, and the residents can pitch in to pay for their services," he said.

However, Firman said he had yet to make any decisions on boosting anticrime measures until he completed a thorough evaluation of crime in the city.

He is to hold a meeting with subordinates next week to discuss the issue and city police operations.