Police to purchase pistols

Police to purchase pistols

JAKARTA: National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar revealed on Tuesday that his office planned to use its budget next year to buy at least 120,000 handguns.

Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the police force, Da'i said the National Police had a total of 80,000 handguns, far short of the 200,000 police personnel active in daily operations.

He added that most of the police carried empty holsters.

Da'i said the police headquarters planned to purchase the handguns from state-owned military weapons factory PT Pindad and would pursue it transparently to avoid corruption.

He did not provide any further details. -- JP