Dozens of police officers in Bali are to be given English language training to help them better serve in tourism hotspots.
Bali Police have confirmed that an English language training day was held last week and are hopeful that this will increase the safety and comfort of top tourism resorts for international visitors.
Bali Regional Police have held an English language training as part of ongoing efforts to improve police services, but also crack down on unruly, criminal, and disrespectful foreigners on the island. The training was held at the Bali Regional Police Precision Building on WR Supratman Street on Friday, 8th August.
The training is described as “a form of Bali Regional Police’s readiness in facing task challenges in the Bali region, which is an international tourist destination”.
The workshop was opened by the Bali Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Daniel Adityajaya, and attended by the Deputy Chief of the Bali Police, Brigadier General of Police Komang Sandi Arsana, and other top officials of the Bali Regional Police.
Inspector General Adityajaya explained to the officers in attendance that the high level of interaction between local people and foreign tourists must be accompanied by coherent and effective communication skills. He noted how this is an important part of providing services, protection, and maintaining public security and order.
He shared, “As a world tourist destination, Bali needs police officers who are not only professional, but also able to communicate well with foreign tourists. This training is a strategic step to answer these needs.”
Adding “The hope is to improve the quality of human resources in the Bali Regional Police environment, so that the service to the community, especially foreign tourists, is more optimal and at an international standard.”
Bali is on a longstanding mission to crack down on criminal behaviours and cultural disrespect from tourists, holidaymakers, digital nomads, expats, and international business visitors. This effort is being coordinated across agencies, from the provincial government to the tourism board, to the provincial police, immigration teams, and even local pecalang village security.
Just last week, the Indonesian Minister for Immigration, Agus Andrianto, confirmed that he had ordered the deployment of the Bali Regional Immigration Patrol Task Force, known as Satgas.
Minister Andrianto told reporters, “The establishment of this Immigration Patrol Task Force is a follow-up from the President’s direction to ensure stability and security in Bali as one of Indonesia’s main tourist destinations.”
Minister Andrianto explained that the Bali Regional Immigration Patrol Task Force will be formed of a team of 100 on-the-ground officers who will be available to provide a rapid response to any foreigner reported to be breaking the law, disturbing public order, or disrespecting local culture.
The officers will also be deployed wearing security vests, sometimes known as stab vests, and wearing body cams.
The officers on deployment have access to official immigration department vehicles, including motorcycles, to conduct their patrols. The teams will be deployed across ten strategic locations within the jurisdiction of the Ngurah Rai and Denpasar Immigration Offices.
Minister Andrianto also revealed where these patrols will be taking place. In North Kuta, the immigration police units will be deployed in Canggu, Seminyak, and Kerobokan.
In Denpasar, teams will be conducting patrols around Sanur’s Matahari Terbit Beach and Benoa. In Pecatu, officers will be deployed to patrol around Uluwatu Beach and at Bingin Beach, and down to Mertasari Beach. Patrols will be conducted in the resort area of Kuta, Nusa Dua, and throughout Ubud.
In the weeks after his inauguration into his second term in office, Bali Governor Wayan Koster made it clear that over the next four years, he will be taking a ‘no mercy’ approach to foreigners found to be engaging in criminal activity, disturbing public peace, or disrespecting local culture.
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