South Jakarta announces joint raids on thugs

As Jakarta authorities kicked off Monday a one-month raid aimed at securing terminals and public buses from thugs and aggressive street musicians, South Jakarta administration announced the raid locations Tuesday.

Jurnalis, the chief of South Jakarta's public order office, told reporters the administration would hold raids in Karet, Pasar Festival, and Jl. Santa on Wednesday.

He said the raid would involve 177 personnel from the police, the public order office, the transportation agency and the social affairs agency.

In total, the city will deploy more than 900 officers to run daily raids at various locations and along bus routes in Jakarta, as the number of crimes onboard public transportation is considered high.

The joint program, which plans to run for at least three hours every day, was launched as a response to a recent instruction from Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo for the two agencies to deal with the increasing number of crimes committed by thugs onboard public transportation.