Wahyuana The Jakarta Post/Bekasi

As part of police reform, the Bekasi Police will establish two new police posts this month, adopting the koban concept, which originated in Japan.

"This project encourages closer relations between the police and the community. We plan to have nine more koban next year. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will finance the project," Bekasi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edward Syah Pernong told The Jakarta Post recently.

"If this project succeeds, there will be dozens of koban in Bekasi -- particularly in residential areas, industrial zones and on commercial premises."

Koban are essentially one-room depots, which were introduced for the first time in 1881, in Japan, to protect officers from the elements. Koban are open around the clock, with police officers working in three shifts, to fight crime and offer assistance. Police duties include helping lost children and giving street directions.

Koban have also been adopted by Singapore, Fiji and Brazil.

Project officer Supt. Iguchi Shigeo told the Post that there are around 420 koban in Tokyo -- which has a population of around 7.98 million. A koban is located in every 1.5 kilometer radius and responsible for the security and safety of around 19,000 residents.

Shigeo said the concept had successfully minimized the crime rate in Japan's big cities.

The two koban to be built in Bekasi will be situated in front of Giant hypermarket near the West Bekasi toll gate and in Pondok Ungu housing complex, North Bekasi.

Each post is expected to serve between 300 and 500 families. The post in Pondok Ungu will accommodate nine officers working in three shifts, but the post in front of Giant will be used by up to 15 officers.

At each koban a patrol car and two motorcycles will be on standby. Each officer will have a walkie-talkie and access to the koban's computer, telephone and facsimile facilities.

Shigeo said, according to Indonesia's neighborhood unit (RT) and community unit (RW) system, ideally, each RW would have one koban.

"In line with the concept of koban, police officers must actively approach citizens. They must meet all residents on their territory, and visit them at least twice a year to see how they are doing," he said.

"The National Police have been under the military for a long time. It will take a long time to change that perception because the people here are afraid to deal with the police," he added.

Four Japanese senior police officers are in Bekasi to train Bekasi Police officers.

Shigeo said the JICA has been working for two years to support the police reform movement here, including the establishment of koban.

"Next year, we will hand over communication radios for around 2,000 officers, so they can communicate directly with Bekasi Police Headquarters," he said.

JICA will also award scholarships to 25 middle-ranked officials to study law enforcement, DNA analysis and criminal identification in Japan.

Odie, a resident, said he thought the project would benefit the community.

"I think the koban concept is good. We can get to know the police officers better. I just hope they don't sit there staring at us, that would be plain scary."