Jakarta Bans Sahur on the Road, Police to Conduct Patrols Throughout Ramadan

Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) will deploy joint patrols to prevent Sahur on the Road (SOTR) activities throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

Head of Operations at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Traffic Directorate, Police Commissioner Robby Hefados, said the joint patrols would involve personnel from the traffic, criminal investigation, intelligence, Samapta, Mobile Brigade and community policing divisions.

“There will be a joint team patrolling for SOTR every day, combining all divisions,” Robby told reporters on Wednesday (18 February).

Robby explained that the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Operations Bureau had already mapped out areas frequently used as SOTR locations. He said the patrols to prevent SOTR would not be focused on a single point, with patrol locations shifting daily to adapt to field conditions.

“The locations will definitely shift every day — they won’t stay at one point,” he said.

Previously, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung announced a ban on Sahur on the Road activities during Ramadan 2026. The prohibition was imposed over concerns that such gatherings could instead create security risks and trigger brawls.

“Anything that causes vulnerability or disturbances from SOTR, I will not permit. But if it promotes comfort, I will allow it,” Pramono said after inaugurating the Kerapatan Gereja Protestan Minahasa (KGPM) church building in the Senen area of Central Jakarta on Saturday (14 February).

In addition, Pramono urged community organisations not to conduct sweeping operations at restaurants during Ramadan. The Jakarta provincial government is committed to maintaining a peaceful atmosphere throughout the fasting month.

Joint Patrols

A total of 80 combined personnel will be deployed daily to conduct surveillance patrols of businesses and maintain public order across Jakarta’s five administrative cities during Ramadan 2026.

The primary focus of the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) patrols will shift to nighttime and early morning hours. This operational pattern reflects the tendency for public activity in Jakarta to increase during evening hours in the fasting month, while daytime activity declines.

Deputy Head of the Jakarta Civil Service Police Unit, Rizki Adhari Jusal, said patrol intensity would peak during hours most prone to violations.

“Typically, our patrols during the holy month of Ramadan are indeed more intensive at night, from evening through to the early morning approaching sahur,” Rizki told reporters at the Jakarta City Hall grounds in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.

“During the daytime, I think public activity is also lower because people are fasting,” he added.

The patrols will involve five squads operating daily across the Jakarta region. The patrols during Ramadan will run for a total of 33 days — beginning one day before the start of Ramadan and continuing until two days after Eid al-Fitr.

These measures are expected to curb potential public order disturbances and ensure entertainment venues comply with closing-hour regulations set by the provincial government, so that the holy month of Ramadan may proceed peacefully and with devotion.