West Java Governor Proposes Armed Officers at Crime Hotspots Amid Bandung Raya Muggings Surge

Responding to a surge in muggings across the Bandung Raya area, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has confirmed he is coordinating with the provincial police chief to prevent crime and boost public safety. The governor proposed stationing armed officers at strategic locations as a deterrent against criminals and to reassure residents. “I have coordinated with the Police Chief for technical and tactical security measures across Bandung Raya and all of West Java. The presence of officers at strategic locations needs to be strengthened to provide a preventive effect against criminals while increasing the public’s sense of security during their activities. Deploying armed officers at strategic points is my proposal and is part of creating comfort and safety for the community,” he stated. The governor also called on residents to reactivate community security systems through routine patrols at the neighbourhood and hamlet levels, particularly in areas prone to muggings, robberies, and other crimes. Dedi further cautioned that security threats extend beyond muggings to include motorcycle gang activities and brawls still occurring in several regions, pledging that the provincial administration will continue to strive for the public’s best interests. Separately, Bandung City Council Commission III member Andri Rusmana urged the city government to immediately resolve the issue of faulty public street lighting, linking the dark roads to the spate of muggings unsettling residents. He argued that the lack of streetlights should not be dismissed as a trivial matter, as dark roads invite criminality and endanger road users. Rusmana called for immediate mapping of vulnerable spots, accelerated repairs of broken lights, and additional illumination in poorly lit areas. He also advocated for strengthened crime prevention through routine security patrols and the installation of CCTV at strategic points, asserting that citizen safety is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed.