Police strive to polish up shoddy image
Police strive to polish up shoddy image
By Ivy Susanti
JAKARTA (JP): The rising crime rate in the city has put the
reputation of the Jakarta Police under increased public scrutiny.
Some have questioned the police's ability to protect people
from criminals when robbers, pickpockets and highwaymen freely
prey on people in the streets, on toll roads, in taxis and in
their own homes -- often in broad daylight.
City police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang, who was
interviewed on Wednesday, the day before he was replaced by Lt.
Col. Zainuri Lubis, denied that the police had done little in
response to public complaints over the rising number of crimes.
He said that the police were on alert 24 hours a day to ensure
security in the capital. People, he said, could dial 110 for help
and the calls would be handled by the nearest police station.
"We have intensified crime fighting operations in the capital
to restore people's sense of security. We do not overlook
people's requests for help. Our officers guard places where the
potential for crime is high. Besides, we cooperate with local
communities to secure areas outside of our patrols," Aritonang
said.
The police will continue doing so until the public regains
their sense of security, he added.
The police have called on people to help one another if they
witness a crime occurring. In the street, for example, motorists
could honk their horns as a distress call for police help.
"That way, the drivers put psychological pressure on the
criminals," Aritonang said. "Police officers have been trained
immediately to rush to the scene of a crime to provide help."
The media has reported a sharp increase in the number of
crimes in the capital over the last year as the economic crisis
has spurred social problems. Among the more frequent types of
crimes are robberies at street junctions, on public vehicles and
on toll roads.
Many people have armed themselves with various devices,
ranging from canisters of tear gas to guns, in the name of self-
protection.
People may carry such weapons, including firearms, as along as
they have legal documents, Aritonang said.
"Although they do not look dangerous, some devices, such as
tear gas canisters, can be dangerous," he added.
The National Police's year-end report showed a decline in the
number of crimes in the city, from 19,832 in 1997 to 18,674 in
1998. Across the country, there was a 10 percent rise in the
number of crimes, from 142,711 in 1997 to 157,180 in 1998.
"The increase is still below the tolerable limit, which was
estimated at 11 percent. Ten percent is normal; if it were
higher, we would all have to be very vigilant," Aritonang said.
This year, however, he noticed that certain crimes, including
thefts, robberies with violence and assault, had escalated.
Such crimes were seen in past years, but, Aritonang said,
recently "the criminals had become more daring, their numbers had
continued to increase as had the number of areas prone to
criminal activities".
The police have intensified operations against street crimes
over the past two months. So far, 205 criminals have been rounded
up, including 79 who were shot, 20 fatally, according to
Aritonang.
The police have joined forces with other related institutions
to provide better protection for the public.
The police alone, he said, would not be able to do much
because criminal activity had risen because of social problems
such as unemployment.
"I'm sure this system will be more effective, if there is
political will from the related institutions," Aritonang said.
The police are doing anything they can to improve their image.
"In fact, there are people who turn to us for help and hang
their hopes on us. This means that people still trust us," he
said.