House Commission I Deputy Speaker: Handling Street Crime Remains Police Authority

Deputy Speaker of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Anton Sukartono, has responded to a statement by Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, who mentioned that street criminals tend to be wary of TNI personnel. Anton stressed that handling the criminal act of armed robbery remains the primary authority of the Indonesian National Police as a law enforcement institution. “I view this as a reflection of the level of trust and authority of the TNI institution within society. However, it must be emphasised that handling criminal acts such as armed robbery is fundamentally within the realm of law enforcement, which is the authority of the National Police,” Anton told journalists on Thursday. According to Anton, the involvement of the TNI in helping to handle street crime can be understood as a form of state presence. He assessed that the directive from the TNI Commander, which permits assistance to the National Police in facing the surge in street crime, is a response to public anxiety. “The involvement of the TNI can be understood as part of an assistance operation to the National Police as stipulated in Article 7, Paragraph 2 of the TNI Law,” he stated. Nevertheless, Anton cautioned that the implementation of such assistance must be carried out in a measured manner and based on real needs on the ground. Furthermore, there must be clear mechanisms for coordination, command, and rules of engagement to avoid overlapping authority. “We must not let a perception arise that the TNI is taking over police duties. The principle is that the presence of soldiers in the field is part of an effort to assist the National Police,” he stressed. Furthermore, Anton assessed that the success of eradicating street crime is not solely determined by the presence of officers whom the public holds in high regard. He believes other factors, such as intelligence quality, preventive patrols, surveillance of high-risk areas, the utilisation of security technology, and the effectiveness of law enforcement processes, also play vital roles. “The more important question is not whether the TNI needs to mount its own operation to crush street criminals, but rather how the state can effectively provide security through professional inter-agency collaboration that complies with legal corridors,” he said. Anton also emphasised the importance of preventive measures to suppress crime rates. He encouraged the government and security forces to strengthen patrols in vulnerable areas, improve street lighting, expand the use of CCTV, and develop community-based environmental security systems. “In this way, efforts to eradicate street crime are not only reactive but are also capable of preventing the potential for criminal acts from the outset.”