Pay more if you want to feel secure
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a move that could be seen as a commercialization of their public service duty, Jakarta Police have teamed up with a private company to provide panic button services to people who are willing and able to pay.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani says that he has designated newly established wireless and software company PT Widya Prakoso Abadi to integrate the panic button system within the city police's patrol system.
"Widya Prakoso Abadi provides the hardware and software, while we deliver the security service. The panic button is available for both individuals and corporations. Residents feeling under threat can subscribe directly to the company," he said last week.
He said that the program, which is now in its trial stages, did not cost the police anything and that the police would not charge any fee to subscribers as the business side was taken care of by the private company.
The panic button is a 24-hour alarm system that notifies a mainframe computer system at city police headquarters whenever it is pressed by a client wishing to get police help.
The mainframe, which is connected to the computer system at police precincts and subprecincts, then automatically assigns the nearest police patrol car to go to the client's location.
The panic button consists of two buttons, red and green. The red button tells police that a crime is occurring at the subscriber's premises, while the green button sends a message that a client needs specific police help.
As the panic button system utilizes satellite and wireless technology, including general packet radio service (GPRS) and global positioning system (GPS), the client's location can be tracked across the capital regardless of their location.
President director of Widya Prakoso Abadi, Antonius Gunawan, said that each client would be charged Rp 2.6 million for the equipment needed in his or her house, office or car, plus a Rp 150,000 fixed monthly fee and an unspecified additional service charge if the button is pushed and police officers attend.
He said that his company has installed GPS equipment inside 150 police patrol cars.
Individuals and companies, including banks, have applied for the service, Antonius said.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said that six police subprecincts are ready to apply the panic button system.
The six subprecincts are Kebayoran Lama subprecinct in South Jakarta, Kebon Jeruk, Tanjung Duren, and Taman Sari subprecincts, all in West Jakarta, Kelapa Gading and Tanjung Priok subprecincts in North Jakarta.
Together with the company, city police launched in January the 1717 SMS program to enable the public to quickly send messages to police.
Many people have praised the program, saying that now police respond quicker to their complaints. According to data from police headquarters, around 500 people send SMSs through the 1717 number every day.