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)

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