TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jakarta, Bekasi police deploy community officers ahead of elections
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Police officials pose for a photograph during an anti-hoax movement declaration event at the Jakarta Police headquarters in South Jakarta on March 12. (kompas.com/Sherly Puspita)
A
head of this year's local and general elections, the police have started deploying officers to community units (RW) in Jakarta and Bekasi.
South Jakarta Police have stationed dozens of personnel in every community unit in Pesanggrahan and Cilandak while Bekasi Police are preparing 1,700 personnel for the program, known as community police.
South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Indra Jafar inaugurated the officials and instructed them on Saturday to provide accurate information to residents to prevent the spread of fake news and rumors provoking people.
“Cyber crime is on the rise. Fake news can spread quickly and threaten security,” Indra said as reported by wartakota.tribunnews.com.
In an effort to counter radicalism and terrorism, the National Police initiated the community police program in 2015 and modeled it after Japan’s neighborhood police, Koban, and the United Kingdom's Neighborhood Watch.
Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Indarto said the officials would work with residents to solve local problems.
“For example, if there has been a surge in street buskers entering an area, the community police will discuss with residents on how to settle the problem,” he said.
The officials will also be stationed in areas nearby their own homes.
The concurrent local elections will be held in 171 regions on June 27 while the legislative and presidential elections will be held next year. (ami/wit)
