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."