Police open service hotline

SURABAYA: Police have opened a hotline telephone number for people in need of assistance related to security and traffic, East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Sumarsono said.

"East Java Police, in cooperation with the East Java branch of PT Telkom, have opened a direct telephone number 166 to provide services and receive complaints from the people," Sumarsono said as quoted by Antara Saturday.

He said that the services included information on traffic flows and accidents, the nearest community health center, petrol stations and restaurants, and important telephone numbers of local administration officials.

Sumarsono said the telephone hotline could now provide services for district police in 13 regencies -- Banyuwangi, Situbondo, Jember, Malang, Tuban, Lamongan, Gresik, Surabaya, Ngawi, Madiun, Nganjuk, Sidoarjo and Pasuruan.

Meanwhile, head of PT Telkom's East Java office Kristiono said the new telephone hotline complemented the existing number, 110, which provides information on traffic accidents. (imn)