Viral Call for LGBT Sweeping in Tangerang, Police Urge Public Not to Be Provoked

Tangerang Resort Police (Polresta Tangerang) have urged the public not to be provoked by calls circulating on social media to carry out sweeps against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) groups.

The appeal was issued after an Instagram account posted a call for action rejecting LGBTQ groups, claiming a movement would be carried out in Tangerang Regency.

Head of Public Relations at Polresta Tangerang, Ipda Tri Leksono, emphasised that the public must not take the law into their own hands or carry out acts of persecution against particular groups.

“The public must not play judge themselves. Maintaining order, enforcing discipline, and safeguarding security are the authority of the state, not of individuals or certain groups,” Tri said on Friday (24/7).

Tri stressed that the police have a duty to maintain public security and order and to provide legal protection to every citizen without discriminating based on their background.

“Our job is to maintain public security and order. Anyone who becomes the victim of a criminal act, whether persecution, anarchic action, or illegal sweeps, will certainly be protected by us,” he explained.

He added that if members of the public find activities suspected of breaking the law or deemed disturbing, the matter must be resolved through legal channels by reporting to the police, not through unilateral action.

“You can go to the nearest police station or call the 110 call centre directly. Do not act anarchically. If residents act on their own, they could also face legal trouble,” he warned.