Defying Decline, Kramat Jakpus Centre for TNI-Polri and Security Guards Survives on Customisation Services

A row of security equipment shops, TNI-Polri insignia outlets, and embroidery services in the Kramat area, Senen, Central Jakarta, remains a destination for many buyers even though its trading activity is no longer as brisk as a few years ago. Amid the surge of online marketplaces and changing consumer spending patterns, the area long known as a hub for official-duty gear persists thanks to loyal customers and customisation services that are difficult to replicate on digital platforms. On Tuesday 19 May 2026, several buyers were still seen moving to and fro along Jalan Kramat Pulo and the surrounding alleys. People were there to source service shoes, security guard uniforms, and small insignia such as pins and emblems. Ilham Ramadhan (29), a security officer at a logistics company, says he still prefers to come to Kramat in person, even though many similar items are available on marketplaces. ‘When it comes to uniforms and shoes, I feel more comfortable buying in person. I can try sizes and check the materials. I once bought online and the size turned out too small and the material differed from the photos,’ said Ilham when interviewed in the Kramat area. He has been a regular customer for buying equipment in the area since 2020 after being invited by a fellow security officer. ‘From small insignia to full uniforms, there is everything there. So no need to keep wandering around,’ he said. The same was said by Sutan Mahesa (35), operations staff at a security outsourcing company who came to buy uniforms and insignia for office needs. He noted that direct purchases remain the primary choice to ensure the goods meet the company’s needs. ‘For company needs it’s safer to inspect the goods firsthand. Because we buy in large quantities, we must ensure the colour, material, and size meet the company’s standards,’ said Sutan. Although the area is considered quieter than before the Covid-19 pandemic, the hub remains busy during the security-recruitment season. ‘The range of goods is wide and the sellers are generally knowledgeable about field requirements,’ he added. Meanwhile Fahrezi Akbar (24), a prospective security officer visiting Kramat for the first time, discovered the area via social media and online search. ‘I looked on TikTok and Google Maps; many people recommended Kramat for complete security-guard equipment,’ Fahrezi said. Observations by Kompas.com in the Kramat area show trading activity has remained fairly brisk since the morning. Along the main road and in narrow alleys, rows of security-gear shops, TNI-Polri insignia outlets, computer embroidery services, and uniform tailors sit tightly together along the main road and in narrow alleyways. Shop signs reading ‘TNI/Polri/Satpam Equipment’, ‘PDH-PDL’, and ‘Computer Embroidery’ are prominent in front of semi-permanent kiosks. Some shops are covered with blue tarpaulins, while others are in narrow passages just wide enough for a single vehicle. The hum of embroidery and sewing machines echoed from inside the kiosks. In several shops, workers were seen cutting fabric, assembling ordered uniforms, and attaching emblems and name tapes.