New provinces to have police commands

New provinces to have police commands

TERNATE, North Maluku: The National Police will set up provincial police commands in four new provinces, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

"The commands will be established next year at the latest," said Brig. Gen. Sri Sugiarto, who heads a team to conduct the feasibility study on the opening of a police headquarters building in North Maluku.

Speaking to journalists in Ternate, he said three other police commands will be set up in the new provinces of Gorontalo in northern Sulawesi, Banten in western Java, and Bangka Belitung.

"The plans are consistent with the wishes of respective local people and administrations to support their duties, development and community affairs," Sugiarto said.

He said the plans for the establishment of police commands in Banten and Bangka Belitung would be easier to establish compared to those in the other two provinces.

In North Maluku and Gorontalo, the plans faced similar hurdles as the central authorities need to upgrade the police district offices in the two provinces from their current status to properly equipped provincial police headquarters. --Antara