West Jakarta Mayor Rejects 'Gotham City' Label

Following recent reports regarding the ‘Gotham City’ label, Iin, the Mayor of West Jakarta, held discussions with the District Police Chief to review local crime data. The Chief confirmed that crime rates in West Jakarta are not higher than in other regions and that the situation remains under control. This statement was made after leading the Preparedness Roll Call for the Community Early Warning Forum (FKDM) at the West Jakarta Mayor’s Office on Monday.

The ‘Gotham City’ moniker was coined by netizens in reference to the fictional crime-ridden city from the ‘Batman’ comics and films, following concerns over nighttime criminal activity in West Jakarta. However, the Mayor rejected this characterisation, noting that high levels of public activity in communal spaces and sports facilities, such as Marudelle Sport Park, indicate that residents feel safe engaging in late-night activities.

Despite the stable situation, the Mayor urged the public to take preventive measures, such as limiting non-essential nighttime travel and ensuring women are accompanied when out late. He emphasised that security is a collective responsibility, requiring active participation from all community elements. As a mitigation strategy, the government is optimising the role of the FKDM at the sub-district level to map and monitor crime hotspots. The FKDM is projected to act as an early warning system, working directly with the grassroots community and synchronising with the ‘Three Pillars’—the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and the Local Government.

In addition to intensifying security patrols, the West Jakarta City Government is currently processing the procurement of additional CCTV cameras, specifically for social and public facilities, to monitor high-risk areas. The Mayor also called upon both government and private entities to contribute to local security by installing surveillance cameras within their own premises. ‘For public and social facilities, it is the responsibility of the relevant departments. The hope is that all locations, including private buildings and government offices, will have integrated security,’ the Mayor concluded.