Low paid private guards offset police incompetence

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.