`I think police only protect the wealthy'

The police have a massive public relations problem. People just don't seem to like them. Police officers are generally seen as fat, lazy and corrupt, spending most their time backing criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking, gambling and prostitution rather than protecting and serving the man on the street. The Jakarta Post asked several people their opinion of the National Police, which celebrates its 47th anniversary on Tuesday.

Mami, not her real name, 29, works at a company in South Jakarta. She lives in Cawang, East Jakarta, with her family:

To tell you the truth, the police scare me. My heart beats faster whenever I see a police officer.

They remind me of a nightmare years ago, when one of my relatives was arrested for drug abuse.

I tried hard to get him released because there lots of other suspects in similar cases managed to avoid jail.

A police officer recommended that I meet with a fellow officer to reach a deal for the release of my relative.

The policeman then demanded Rp 5 million, but I bargained and eventually made a deal to pay him only Rp 2 million.

However, nothing happened in the case. My relative was even put in detention for "intensive" interrogation.

Then I found out that it was futile to pay the officer any money. My request for a release was ignored. When I asked for my money back, the policeman said half of the money had been spent on the release process. He only gave me back Rp 1 million.

From then on, I think of police officers as only being corrupt. They play a role in the drug trade and get a lot of money from drug cases.

Needless to say, they extort money from the families of suspects in many other cases.

I am pretty sure the image of the police will never improve because most of them are involved in bribery and extortion.

Berto, not his real name, 32, is a reformed thug. He now works at a company in Tomang, West Jakarta. He lives nearby with his wife and daughter:

I don't dare judge the performance of the police now. But for sure, their image in the past has been very bad.

Well, to some extent their image has improved slightly. But it depends on the case.

They might only protect certain groups of rich people or "respectable" figures. When I worked as a debt collector, they gave me a lot of help because my boss paid them well.

I don't think residents feel safe with all the crime in the city now.

Jakartans have identified numerous places across the city where lots of street crimes take place. But the police don't seem to take it seriously, and the criminals are still free to operate in these areas.

When I was a bad guy, I knew there were lots of police officers using drugs and backing the dealers. Maybe they still do that, but I don't know.

In a way, I can understand this considering how little they are paid. They have to make money other ways.

But I won't deal with the police anymore because I was traumatized when they arrested and tortured me for murdering a military officer.

Dian works at a company in Salemba, Central Jakarta. She lives in Kampung Ambon, East Jakarta, with her husband and daughter:

I don't think the police have improved in their performance since they were separated from the Indonesian Military.

They have only improved in terms of their physical appearance. Their new uniforms, new patrol cars and new police posts are visible enhancements.

However, in terms of mentality, there has been no change in the police and they are still up to their old mischief.

They back drug trafficking, gambling dens and prominent criminals. Some officers even buy stolen goods like motorcycles.

And they don't protect the public. They don't do anything about areas in the city where there is lots of crime.

The police often let street crimes go, putting the lives of the people in danger, as is the case at many intersections in East Jakarta.

-- Leo Wahyudi S