East Java Police Build Community Ties Through 'Kopi Cak Bhabin' Programme

The East Java Regional Police, through its Bhayangkara Community Security and Order Officers (Bhabinkamtibmas), have undertaken various initiatives to strengthen ties with the public, including a programme known as Kopi Cak Bhabin, or Kobin.

Bhabinkamtibmas officer at Bubutan Police Station, Adjutant Inspector of Police Two Muhammad Sugeng Bin Wahab, said the Kobin programme uses bicycles equipped with coffee when carrying out the duty of visiting residents.

“Kobin is one of our means of going around the neighbourhood. The core duty of Bhabinkamtibmas is community visits. Therefore, we conduct our visits by bringing the Kobin cart to the residents,” he said, as quoted from an official statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Sugeng said the bicycle, which has been converted to carry coffee on its left and right sides, was funded from his own personal resources.

Meanwhile, the coffee served during community visits is provided free of charge.

“The coffee is free for the community,” he said.

The Kobin programme was inspired by the Indonesian public’s fondness for coffee. The beverage has been adopted by Bhabinkamtibmas officers as a means of breaking the ice and gathering community aspirations.

The Bhabinkamtibmas initiative received appreciation and a warm reception from a delegation of the House of Representatives’ Commission VII, led by Rahayu Saraswati, during a visit to Surabaya’s Batik Okra Village on Tuesday (10 February).