Revitalizing Police Patrols as a Crime Prevention Effort

Abstract

Police patrol is one of the crime prevention efforts that has long been implemented by the police institution. However, patrols should not be understood solely as routine operational activities; they need to be studied and developed to have a more effective impact on crime prevention. Therefore, revitalising police patrols is necessary, both in terms of the meaning of police presence in the community and in terms of their implementation, including utilising advances in information technology. The revitalisation of police patrols in Bandar Lampung City Police jurisdiction is implemented through Patroli Janji Jaga (Promise to Guard) innovation, consisting of jingle patrols and QR code patrols. Jingle patrols adopt the communication patterns of traditional street vendors, such as meatball or satay vendors, to signal to the public that police are nearby. Meanwhile, QR code patrols digitise conventional patrols by replacing patrol boxes in crime-prone locations with QR codes accessible to officers and the public. During the implementation, patrol officers conduct attendance checks and dialogue visits, and facilitate public participation through satisfaction surveys, complaints, and suggestions. This study aims to analyse the role and implementation of this revitalised police patrol as a crime prevention effort using Routine Activity Theory and Rational Choice Theory approaches. The research method employs a mixed-methods approach, and data are collected through observation, documentation, and QR code-based public satisfaction surveys. The results indicate that the revitalised police patrols have a strong theoretical basis and practical benefits in crime prevention, as well as increasing public safety and trust in police presence in public areas.