Police and crime prevention teams in Canggu have been conducting spot checks to help keep residents and tourists safe.
As Canggu has seen a huge rise in the number of tourists visiting the area, and as development has boomed, criminals have been noted to slip through the net. Police are committed to keeping tourists safe in Bali.
The North Kuta Police Agency, led by AKP Police Chief Yusuf Dwi Atmojo, conducted a series of spot checks along the Batu Bolong Highway on the evening of Saturday, 7th September.
The police unit set up base outside the world-famous Old Man’s Bar in the heart of Canggu and was stopping vehicles from 10.30 pm until the early hours of the morning.
AKP Atmojo confirmed that he and his teams stopped hundreds of vehicles, predominantly motorcycles, as they passed through the busy nightlife hub.
Police were checking the roadworthiness of vehicles and driving licenses, conducting bag checks, and ensuring that drivers were sober and safe to drive.
AKP Akmojo told reporters, “We raided there because the road was crowded. In addition to suppressing crime and ensuring that drivers do not bring dangerous objects, also check the completeness of drivers, such as STNK, SIM, and vehicle documents.”
He also noted that police were on the lookout for sharp objects, weapons, and other dangerous or illegal goods.
Of the over one hundred vehicles that were checked on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, no criminal activity was detected in the area.
AKP Akmojo noted, “During the activity, no drivers were found carrying prohibited items, and all vehicles were complete with papers. But the point is that we do not expect to take action against violators, but how can the crime be suppressed.”
It is not only in Canggu, where police have been cracking down on illegal behavior and carrying out crime prevention patrols but also in Denpasar.
The city center is known to be the hangout spot for young people, and illegal street racing has been an issue in the city center, the suburbs, and around the resort of Sanur for over a year.
The East Denpasar Police team, led by Police Chief AKP Agus Riwayanto Diputra, explained that the weekend evening patrols are a way of ensuring the city center and surrounding areas are safe for residents, tourists, and road users.
AKP Diputra said, “This patrol is part of our efforts to ensure security and order in East Denpasar, especially during critical times. We also urge the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with the police in maintaining the security of their environment.”
The patrols covered a wide area of Denpasar, including Ida Bagus Mantra Bypass Road, the Ngurah Rai Bypass Road, Puputan Highway, the area around the Puputan Margarana Field to Niti Mandala and beyond.
Police in Bali are committed to cracking down on crime across the island. At the beginning of the high seasons, police announced that they would be conducting Blue Light Patrols at Bali’s busiest nightlife hotspots every weekend, including in Canggu and Seminyak.
Initially, these patrols were scheduled for the high season, but as the low season begins, police will be continuing their crime prevention efforts.
Traffic Police in the North Kuta area have also been conducting spot checks on drivers, including tourists driving mopeds, throughout the week. Drivers have been pulled over at random and when traffic officers have observed an offence.
Driving offenses include driving without a helmet, driving recklessly, not wearing a shirt, driving without a license, or driving a vehicle that is not deemed roadworthy.
Tourists, as well as local residents, are encouraged to report criminal or anti-social behavior to the police as soon as possible.
Local pecalang, also known as village security, is also on hand to help tourists in the event of a crime, lost belongings, and more.
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Randy
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
Isn’t Canggu been a high concentration of Russian and Ukrainians living side by side?? Tackling crime in Canggu has been more of a priority...wonder why that is??
Have you asked how crime related may be foreign involvement with local thugs? Just saying...
Exp
Tuesday 10th of September 2024
"The patrols covered a wide area of Denpasar. Illegal street racing has been an issue in the Denpasar city center, the suburbs, and around the resort of Sanur for over a year."
Yes we know. I was in central Denpasar last Saturday evening. The police claim to have been in the area. However, I did not see any police. Instead the street racers went completely bananas and ruined the night for those trying to enjoy the dinner in that area.
So whatever the police claim they area doing is clearly not working. The laws must change so the police can confiscate and demolish the bikes (using steamrollers). That will teach the antisocial criminal thugs a lesson. I look forward to see $50,000 Harleys and Ducati's flat as pancakes.
Shorty
Friday 13th of September 2024
@Exp,
Were you there after 10.30pm ?
That's when the operation started
Randy
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
@Exp, there are NOT thugs if they can afford Harvey’s and Ducati’s and unfortunately you don’t own one. But it is rather odd that they would drive through Sanur at night when they usually ride in group formation during the weekend. So your observation could be a bit far fetched as always...
Cathy
Tuesday 10th of September 2024
Very good news for Bali Icon Island about the safety of the tourists. I was sick of hearing about the crime in our paradise home and felt sorry for the tourists who had a bad experience coming to Bali and getting robbed. I’m Balinese and also scared to let my husband go out by himself and don’t feel free to go at night anywhere in Kuta, Legian and Canggu. Is a very serious crime in Bali I feel ashamed for our community in Bali. Even my family who lived in the village two hours away from Legian didn’t feel free and safe to go to Denpasar, Kuta, legion and Changgu. I hope this solves the problem of making tourists safer in Bali. Thank you so much to all the Police officers (BPP), Pecalangs, and Security for working hard together to keep our community and the tourists safe. Good luck to all, have a wonderful day🙏👍🌟🌟🌟
Shorty
Friday 13th of September 2024
@Randy,
Check your maths ...3,600 expats is over half the Balinese population??
It's currently around 4.4 million.
Randy
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
@Cathy, according to several well to do and well educated Indonesians,the government is too lenient on foreigners living in Bali where as in other Western countries, visas and foreign migration are becoming more scrutinized and closer screening who can be let within their borders.
Randy
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
@Cathy, according to a reliable source there are 200,000 or so foreigners living in Indonesia but in legal or illegal status (undocumented) that remains to be seen. There are 3,600 expatriates as of March 2023 living in a Bali. This means that more than half of Bali's residents are foreigners.
The origins of the expatriates are varied. However the government is tackling crime that be involved with undesirable foreigners (drugs, criminals on the run, investment fraud) that has been making headline news. Local thugs could also be involved to make a living with criminal foreign associates.