Number of city's crime black spots doubles
Number of city's crime black spots doubles
JAKARTA (JP): The number of crime black spots in the capital
doubled from 31 in July to 60 last month as the result of a
growing sense of desperation setting in among the segment of the
city's population recently forced into life below the poverty
line, an official has said.
Tongam Tambunan, a senior executive of the city's public order
office, said on Wednesday that areas vulnerable to street
robberies and extortion would continue to increase for as long as
poverty continued to advance through the city in leaps and
bounds.
He said that forthcoming data on poverty in the capital in
November would show a substantial jump in the number of poor
families from the October figure of 57,218 families or 228,900
individuals.
"This will force more desperate people onto the streets and
into a life of crime. Many of the city's junctions and toll roads
have already become popular haunts for robbers, extortionists and
beggars-turned-extortionists," Tambunan said.
According to preliminary data from his office, new crime black
spots in the capital include parts of the Cengkareng-Soekarno
Hatta International Airport toll road, the Tanjung Priok-Jembatan
Tiga-Pluit toll road, the Pondok Pinang-Jagorawi toll road and
certain parts of Lenteng Agung in South Jakarta and Galur in
Central Jakarta.
"Other black spots in Central Jakarta include street junctions
on Jl. K.S. Tubun in Tanah Abang, parts of Harmoni, Kota and
Gambir railway stations, Lapangan Banteng, Sarinah department
store, Matraman, Taman Suropati, Gunung Sahari and Senen,"
Tambunan said.
In West Jakarta, crime black spots include street junctions in
Tomang, Grogol, Slipi, and Jl. Daan Mogot and Jl. Kyai Tapa. In
East Jakarta, a significant rise in crime has been recorded at
junctions in Cililitan, in areas around Taman Mini Indonesia,
along Jl. Pemuda and in Klender.
Several streets in the Ancol and Pluit area of North Jakarta
have also been classified as black spots.
In South Jakarta, several street junctions in Kuningan, Pondok
Labu, Pancoran, the Blok M shopping area and Jl. Sisingamangaraja
have also been listed as the favored haunts of street criminals,
especially during the hours of darkness.
Tambunan said that governor Sutiyoso had ordered the city's
five mayors and other officials to take stern action to stamp out
street robberies and extortion in the capital.
The governor has also asked Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen.
Noegroho Djajoesman to enlist the security forces into the effort
to combat crime.
When contacted on a separate occasion on Wednesday, Sutiyoso
confirmed he had issued instructions to his staff and requested
the help of the police.
He also said he had been discussing ways to stamp out the
rising incidence of crime on toll roads fringing the city with
executives from the state toll road operator PT Jasa Marga.
"We need their help. They must report any robberies that take
place on the toll roads immediately and they must take immediate
action to help the victims and ensure others are adequately
warned," Sutiyoso said. (ylt)