Illegal Fireworks Sellers Without Permits Will Be Actioned, Police Hold Raids Until D-1 New Year

East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Kombes Pol Erwin Kurniawan/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Kombes Pol Erwin Kurniawan emphasized that his party would immediately monitor the sale of firecrackers and fireworks without distribution permits. This is related to the determination of the prohibition of fireworks on New Year's Eve by the Polda Metro Jaya.

"We will continue to monitor this. We will see what kind of control will be and will carry out investigations related to illegal circulation," said Kombes Pol Erwin to VOI, Thursday, December 23.

However, the Police Chief detailed that fireworks that have a sales permit are allowed.

"Fireworks that have a permit are allowed in certain sizes, especially imported ones. That is in accordance with our STR from the National Police Headquarters and from the Regional Police," he said.

Meanwhile, the Police Chief continued, the illegal fireworks are home industries. Which are usually made without any size, without any indicators of the material made so that it is dangerous.

"There is no safety element so it can explode at any time," he said.

Confirmed separately, East Jakarta Head of East Jakarta Satpol PP Budhy said his party would immediately conduct raids on the sale of illegal firecrackers until New Year's Eve.

"We will conduct a sweep of the place of sale, we forbid it because there is no party during the New Year celebration. So we will carry out raids until D-1 of the new year. We will conduct raids on firecracker sellers," he told VOI.

Previously, the Polda Metro Jaya prohibited residents from holding fireworks and firecrackers on New Year's Eve which could cause crowds, due to the potential for the spread of COVID-19.

The Head of Public Relations of the Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Pol. Endra Zulpan, said that the Polda Metro Jaya would deploy personnel to anticipate fireworks and firecrackers.

"Residents are not allowed to do activities outside their homes, after 22.00 WIB, to avoid crowds," he said.

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan has also issued Governor's Decree (Kepgub) Number 1473 concerning PPKM Level One. In the Governor's Decree, Anies prohibits celebration parties with crowds in open and closed places which will be effective from December 24, 2021 to January 2, 2022.

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has prohibited celebratory parties in public areas, public parks, and public tourist attractions, during the Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022 periods to prevent and deal with COVID-19.