Following the lifting of public activity restrictions (PPKM), the National Police (Polri) are preparing an emergency response plan to anticipate potential security and criminal disturbances that might occur on New Year’s Eve.
A detailed emergency response plan has to be prepared by police in all regions, head of Polri’s public relations division, Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo, said when contacted on Friday.
“For securing crowds in crowded places and New Year’s Eve celebrations, there have been directives from the Polri Headquarters,” he added.
In the absence of PPKM, the National Police are preparing anticipatory measures so that people’s activities during New Year’s Eve celebrations at tourist attractions or crowded places remain safe and comfortable, especially amid the potential for extreme weather.
“For the security of crowds at crowded places and New Year’s Eve celebrations, all ranks of Polri are asked to conduct assessments, mainly for security and safety standards of visitors,” he said.
In addition, police personnel across Indonesia have been asked to formulate a detailed security plan.
Based on data from the 2022 Lilin Operation, there has been an increase in public interest in celebrating New Year’s Eve in a number of areas.
The increase in the number of people traveling ahead of New Year’s eve stood at 95 percent in several areas such as Lembang, Bandung, and Puncak, Bogor.
Polri has set up a contingency task force to face the extreme weather that has been predicted ahead of the year-end until January 2, 2023.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Friday announced an end to the PPKM policy, which was enforced to control COVID-19 transmission in Indonesia.
The revocation of the PPKM policy means that there will be no more restrictions on public activities and mobility, he said.
Nevertheless, the government has not lifted the health emergency status as the pandemic has not completely ended.
Source: Antara News