TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Central Jakarta Resort Police intensified a new program dubbed Polisi RW or Neighborhood Police that is specifically mobilized to conduct surveillance and security in a community area during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Polisi RW is a new program initiated by Central Jakarta Police. It seems there is no such program in other regions. The officers are tasked to enforce the national police’s order for the COVID-19 handling and prevention,” said Central Jakarta Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Suwatno on Tuesday, April 7.

Suwatno explained the program was a collaboration with the community figures and Community Unit leaders in Central Jakarta, and it has been running recently.

“We have mobilized Resort Police members as Polisi RW personnel. It has been actively running, but it needs to be optimized,” he added.

The neighborhood police officers are tasked to disperse crowds and monitor the self-isolation areas to make them sterile from the public. It is different from Babinkamtibmas that consisted of police officers assigned to villages as advisors on security and public order.

The personnel on duty will be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as cloth masks as recommended by Jakarta provincial administration.

The program is expected to encourage public discipline in complying with the central and regional government’s instruction regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in a bid to break the chain of the virus transmission quickly.

ANTARA