Police to simplify bomb reporting

Police to simplify bomb reporting

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hot on the heels of the bomb attack on the Wisma Bhayangkari
at National Police Headquarters, the police are considering
simplifying the procedures for reporting bombs to the bomb squad
so as to ensure a quicker response.

City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo admitted that the
drawn-out procedures for reacting to bomb threats had contributed
to the bomb squad's failure to arrive at the scene before the
bomb went off.

"We have evaluated our reporting procedures, which we have
found to be too bureaucratic and time-consuming," said Prasetyo.

If all goes to plan, after the evaluation of the recent
bombing, Prasetyo said, the public would simply be able to report
any bomb threat to the local police station commander who would
then directly call the bomb squad so as to ensure an immediate
response.

The bomb that went off at the Wisma Bhayangkari on Monday
morning left the police red-faced as the bomb was actually found
by police more than an hour before it exploded.

The bomb was discovered by two janitors, Entik, 54, and
Norman, 45, at 6:15 a.m., who then reported it to the police
officers who were on duty. These officers then reported it to
their commander, who relayed the report to Jakarta Police
Headquarters.

An officer at city police headquarters then contacted the
South Jakarta Police precinct. Police officers from Kebayoran
Baru Police subprecinct led by Adj. Comr. Suhardjendra came to
check the report and then contacted the police bomb squad.
Unfortunately, the bomb exploded at 7:10, nearly 10 minutes
before the squad's arrival.

The bomb, which police said was a low explosive one, damaged
the Wisma Bhayangkari's lobby and two cars parked nearby. No
fatalities were reported.

Monday's bomb attack was the first bomb in the capital, as
well as the country as a whole, this year. Last year, police
reported at least four bomb attacks, which claimed two lives.

The police are still in the dark over the identity of the
perpetrators and the motives behind the Wisma Bhayangkari
bombing.

Last year, bomb threats, mostly sent in by phone, were
numerous and mostly targeted high rise buildings, especially
following the Bali bombings in October last year, which killed
more than 190 people, mostly foreigners.

Police said that at least 20 bomb threats were reported by
Jakartans during the first month after the Bali bombings, though,
not one of the threats turned out to be real.

There are two bomb squads in Jakarta, one in Kwitang, Central
Jakarta, belonging to the Jakarta Police and another in Kelapa
Dua, Depok, belonging to the National Police.

"Ideally, every police precinct should have its own bomb squad
so that the police can provide an immediate response to every
bomb report from the public." said Prasetyo.

However, Prasetyo said this would not transpire any time soon
as special training would have to be provided to police
personnel. "And that takes time."