Low paid private guards offset police incompetence

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sujana, 40, a community guard (hansip) in Cempaka Putih Timur, Central Jakarta, gets upset when passers-by often stop to ask a question about an address.

"I'm paid here to monitor security in the neighborhood, not to be a public guide," said Sujana, while adding that he had to deal with up to 80 people a day asking him about addresses in the area.

During an interview with The Jakarta Post on Thursday, which lasted about 15 minutes, five motorists stopped and interrupted the interview to ask for someone's address.

Sujana, who never received any kind of security training, said he only relied on his alertness and "instincts" to do his job.

"I am very cautious if I see a suspicious stranger or some people walking around a house as they may have bad intentions," said Sujana.

However, Sujana acknowledged that he would not dare confront armed robbers.

"The neighborhood unit chief has told me to think safety first in facing armed robbers. It is better to run and ask for police help," said Sujana, adding that his security post had a two-way radio to contact the police or other community security guards.

Sujana, along with his partner who each work 12-hour shifts, has to monitor the security for at least 90 families in three neighborhood units in Cempaka Putih Timur. The salaries for Sujana and his partner are collectively paid by the residents.

"It's a tiring job with a meager payment of Rp 180,000 a month," Sujana sighed, adding that his wife was employed as a housemaid to meet the needs of their family with two children.

Like Sujana, many community security guards have been working to ensure security in their neighborhoods across the city amid police failure to ensure security in the vast area of the capital.

The police readily admit that they are unable to uphold security in the city because of sheer size and a lack of officers.

There are officially 20,895 police officers who have to cover Greater Jakarta, including Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi with a population of more than 18 million.

"The Police officer to population ratio is 1:925. That means that each policeman must serve 925 people," said City Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara.

Ideally, Makbul said, the ratio should be around 1:350, which is the international minimum standard set by the United Nations.

The ratio here is far lower than other large Asian cities like Tokyo (1:339), Singapore (1:205) and Hong Kong (1:417).

Makbul said that the police were intensifying their training of civilians who are willing to assist the police.

"To date, we have trained 2,855 civilian police (PPNS), 72,579 security guards (Satpam), 10,190 community guards, 6,000 public order officers and about a thousand other civilian police assistants."

Edi S, 27, another community guard at a housing estate Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, claimed that in most cases, their presence had deterred criminals from trying to enter the complex.

"We will ask them for the address that they wish to visit if we find a car with more than three passengers entering the complex," said Edy.

Edi said all vehicle accesses to the complex were safeguarded by two guards, with posts stationed in several areas of the complex to monitor the situation. Only a few entry points are available for people who are on foot.

"But, at times, we miss the petty thefts committed by people who enter the complex on foot, like people stealing car stereos or mirrors," said Edi's colleague, Paryanto, 30.

Paryanto said they had no time off, even on Sundays or holidays.

"We just get four days off during Lebaran (Idul Fitri)," said Edy, adding that he obtained about Rp 515,000 a month plus 10 kilograms of rice, and three kilograms of sugar for his family.