Why West Jakarta Is Being Referred to by Residents as 'Gotham City'?
Jakarta, KOMPAS.com - In recent weeks, the term ‘Gotham City’ has frequently appeared among residents of West Jakarta to describe the security situation in their area. The nickname is not without cause. A string of street crime incidents occurring in close succession has left some residents feeling that public spaces in the area are increasingly unsafe, particularly at night.
One resident, Fajar (26), who lives in the Cengkareng area, says he is now more cautious when passing along several roads in West Jakarta, especially when returning home from work at night. According to him, several violent incidents in recent times have left him uneasy while driving.
Similar concerns are shared by other residents who say they have begun to change their travel patterns, including taking longer routes or travelling in groups for safety reasons.
In the record of recent events, West Jakarta has in the past period been marked by various street crimes, from mugging, motor vehicle theft, to violent acts that injured victims. Several incidents are said to have occurred at points commonly used by residents during their activities, especially at night and into the early hours.
Criminologist Josias Simon from the University of Indonesia notes that rising public anxiety cannot be separated from three main factors: perpetrators, victims, and environmental conditions. He explains that economic pressure and social conditions often trigger someone to commit street crime. Additionally, he highlights that public spaces still have security gaps, such as poor lighting and lack of surveillance at certain points.
Josias also emphasises the importance of periodically updating mapping of crime-prone areas so that the public can anticipate risks when going about their activities. He says that without up-to-date data, preventive measures are difficult to implement effectively. He also calls for a strengthening of community-based security systems, such as siskamling (security groups), as a form of community participation in maintaining safety in their respective areas.