Jailbreak highlights police incompetence
At least 10 prisoners broke out of two police detention centers last week. Seven detainees escaped from the Bojong Gede police cells last Sunday (April 3), and three days later, three more fled from a police detention center in East Jakarta. The Jakarta Post asked two residents about what they thought of the escapes.
Indra Wijaya, 25, works in the marketing department of a state-owned bank. He lives with his family in Cibubur, East Jakarta.
The jailbreaks are yet another illustration of the police's general incompetence. They should have monitored the prison in 24-hour shifts, with no excuses. They are supposed to take shifts guarding the cells because it is their duty to keep the detainees in prison.
The fact that prisoners can easily escape makes me and my family worried. What is the use of law enforcers if they cannot keep the public safe from criminals?
I think the government should immediately fix or renovate prison cells that are no longer suitable.
However, it shouldn't give the money directly to the police. I am afraid the money would be wasted because of the corruption in the force.
If the prison bars are old and rusty, then replace them with new ones, but don't give the cash to the police to fix them.
Eka Faradhila, 24, works for an advertising agency in South Jakarta. She lives in a dormitory in Setiabudi, Kuningan, South Jakarta.
The news (of the jailbreaks) scares me. It means I should be careful when I interact with people I don't know. How could the police be so clumsy that they let those criminals out? How could they become so unprofessional? How can my house be safe if police can't keep prison cells secure?
The government should deal with the issue immediately otherwise threats to public safety will never go away.
I don't think increasing police officers' salaries would improve their performance when dealing with criminals.
It's not the solution because no matter how much they get paid, if they are not dedicated to their jobs nothing will change.
--The Jakarta Post