West Java Police Establish Special Hotline for Homecoming Travellers to Protect Against Extortion in Tourist Areas

The West Java Regional Police (Polda Jabar) has officially launched a dedicated hotline service for Eid homecoming travellers to guarantee the safety and comfort of the public during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr period. West Java Police Chief Inspector General Rudi Setiawan stated that the introduction of this hotline represents the Police commitment to delivering rapid service in the field.

The service is designed as a communication bridge between residents and officers during travel throughout West Java’s jurisdiction.

“We present this Homecoming Hotline as a form of preparedness. We want to ensure that every traveller passing through West Java feels safe and receives rapid assistance if they encounter difficulties,” said Rudi in Bandung on Wednesday (11 March).

To obtain assistance, the public can contact the WhatsApp/telephone number 0821-1606-621 or the police emergency service 110. The programme embodies the philosophy of “sauyunan ngajaga lembur” (community watch), prioritising collaboration between police and community members.

Beyond traffic congestion issues, Polda Jabar has also given special attention to handling lost items, such as ATM cards or mobile phones, through complaint channels that will be further promoted by the Traffic Directorate (Ditlantas) of Polda Jabar. In addition to the homecoming flow, Rudi emphasised that the force will not tolerate extortion practices at tourist locations during the Eid holiday.

He has instructed personnel to closely monitor congestion points.

“There should be no extortion at tourist sites, such as illegal parking with drastically inflated tariffs. We have prepared a team to maximise surveillance,” he asserted.

He also urged the public not to hesitate to report such practices to officers in the field. In line with the Police Chief, the Traffic Director of Polda Jabar, Senior Police Commissioner Raydian Kokrosono, explained that the channel serves as a vital instrument for monitoring traffic dynamics in real time during Operation Ketupat Lodaya.

“Information from the public is greatly helpful in allowing us to map field conditions. With rapid reporting, officers can immediately take action to ease congestion and handle accidents so that traffic flow remains smooth,” said Raydian.