Nation's crime rate down in 1997

Nation's crime rate down in 1997

JAKARTA (JP): The country's crime rate may have dropped this
year but National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo warned yesterday
that growing economic hardship could push the rate up in 1998.

The number of crimes reported to police fell by more than 8
percent this year to 134,892 offenses from 147,144 last year,
Dibyo said during a yearend presentation of the 1997 Crime Index.

"A crime is committed every three minutes and 53 seconds," he
said.

Greater Jakarta, with a population of more than 13 million,
has the highest number of reported crimes with 19,432 cases. West
Java, East Java, Central Java and North Sumatra ranked next with
18,942, 18,322, 9,856 and 9,746 cases respectively.

Bengkulu has the lowest number of reported crimes with 844
cases, followed by Central Kalimantan and Southeast Sulawesi.

The crime rate -- number of crimes compared to the population
-- reveals a different picture.

Topping the list is North Sulawesi, East Timor and then
Greater Jakarta. Central Java and Lampung are considered the
least prone to crime.

Dibyo was quick to caution the public from embracing the
figures with too much optimism, saying the crime rate could
increase in 1998.

The monetary upheavals have disrupted people's lives, with
price increases for basic commodities, rescheduling of government
projects and the problems facing many middle and small
entrepreneurs, he said.

"These in turn will affect public security and order. We have
to become more vigilant. The public must be prepared for the
possibility that certain parties will take advantage of this
precarious condition."

The growing unemployment rate, for example, could lead to
increases in burglary, robbery and car theft. There could also be
a growth in white collar crimes.

Political-related crimes, especially riots and acts of
subversion, could increase next year in the run up to and wake of
the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly in
March, he said.

This year, there were 353 strikes and 508 riots nationwide.
The gatherings were held by the general public (395 incidents),
students (379) and public transport drivers (360).

Dibyo promised that police personnel would do their utmost to
fight crime in the new year.

Burglary topped the list of crimes committed this year with
39,812 reported incidents, down from 44,461 in 1996. Car theft
followed with 16,201 offenses, down from 17,714 in 1996.

The only types of crime to increase this year were fires,
currency forgery and drug offenses.

"The number of bogus money-related cases almost doubled to 465
cases from only 256 last year," he said.

The number of drug-related offenses rose 55 percent to 1,316,
signaling that Indonesia has become a potential market for
international drug syndicates and no longer simply a transit
point, he said.

"We arrested 157 suspects, including 37 foreigners from
countries like Nigeria, Britain, Ghana, Pakistan and Thailand."

He said 11,549 people died in road accidents compared to
10,983 in 1996. The number of accidents also increased to 15,508
from 14,722 accidents, with most attributed to reckless driving.

Of the 134,892 offenses reported this year, police managed to
solve 82,241, or nearly 61 percent, Dibyo said.

"The police always strive to do their best to fulfill their
duties." (cst)

Safe -- Page 3