Motor and Fireworks Convoy Disrupt Peace, Residents of Kembangan and Kebon Jeruk Question the Presence of the Police

JAKARTA - Sunday, March 15, 2026, evening, the tranquility of residents of the Kembangan and Kebon Jeruk areas, West Jakarta, was suddenly disturbed by the hustle and bustle of a group of teenagers. At 21.00 WIB, a time known as the street-prone hour which should be a safe public space is actually controlled by a massive motorcycle convoy.

Along Jalan Panjang to the Joglo area, dozens of teenagers sped by on their motorbikes, carrying large-sized flags that were waving vigorously, and occasionally lighting firecrackers in the middle of the traffic flow. The deafening sound of the firecracker explosion echoed in the air, followed by a cloud of smoke that enveloped the highway.

This scene is not just a dangerous teenage euphoria, but a real public order disorder. Other road users who pass there are forced to be extra vigilant, even some of them choose to pull over for a moment to avoid the risk of accidents. An intimidating atmosphere is created, making residents around feel uncomfortable and worried about their safety.

Deep disappointment also emerged from the community. They questioned the presence of the police at that crucial moment.

"It seems that residents want to know why the police were not at the scene when the incident occurred. The police must indeed patrol at vulnerable hours," Ahmad told the media.

Kamal, a resident of South Kembangan, also voiced a similar thing. He admitted that approaching Lebaran, the police usually divided the security focus, including to the Lebaran Homecoming Security Post (Pospam). However, according to him, this should not be an excuse to ignore routine patrols in settlements and main roads.

"Focusing on homecoming security is not an excuse not to patrol at crime-prone points and disorder," said Kamal.

The absence of officers in the field during the petasan convoy triggered demands for the leadership of the National Police to take firm action. Residents asked the Metro Jaya Police Chief to conduct a thorough evaluation of the performance of the Kapolsek in the West Jakarta ranks. They hope that this evaluation can improve the performance of the police in maintaining public security and order, especially during vulnerable hours.

Technically, in March 2026 which is approaching Lebaran, the National Police will hold the Ketupat Operation. The deployment of personnel to static points such as terminals, stations, and toll gates often reduces the frequency of mobile patrols on arterial roads such as Kembangan and Kebon Jeruk.

In addition, the limited fleet allocated for escorting the homecoming flow also makes the response to disturbances such as the convoy of teenagers often late. Teenagers also often take advantage of the time gap, such as when the shift of officers changes or when the officers are focused on other crowded points, to carry out their actions.

The criticism from residents is very valid. Sociologically, allowing the petasan convoy could be a trigger for larger actions, such as fights between groups. Security is not only about guarding the departure point for travelers, but also ensuring that every inch of Jakarta's streets remains safe for those who do not return home.