Yogya forms community policing

YOGYAKARTA: The Yogyakarta government, in cooperation with the Yogyakarta police, established on Wednesday the Malioboro Community-Oriented Policing (COP) unit.

The unit will have 50 members selected from among parking attendants, petty traders, pedicab drivers and other members of community earning their living along Jl. Malioboro in the heart of Yogyakarta. They will be given policing courses before they start performing their duties -- mostly concerned with ensuring security and cleanliness on Jl. Malioboro, which is a favorite spot for both foreign and domestic tourists alike.

Yogyakarta Municipal Police chief Sr. Comr. Condro Kirono said that the presence of the COP members would be a great help for the police in ensuring security along Jl. Malioboro.

COP spokesman Paul Zulkarnaen said that the COP members would receive Rp 10,000 (US$1.1) a day from the Yogyakarta municipal government. -- JP