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.