Car 54 Where are You?

(3/3/2013)

The Jakarta Post reports that the Bali Police complain that their current stock of patrol cars is inadequate to meet the needs for vehicles during the APEC Summit scheduled for September 2013.

Bali’s chief of police, Inspector General Arif Wachyunadi, told the press: "The number of patrol cars owned by the Bali Police will not be enough to support a large-scale international event like APEC."

According to General Wachyunadi, he calculates minimums of 92 patrol cars are needed to provide an escort of four cars for each of the official delegations from 23 countries. Half of this total requirement will be temporarily supplied from East Java and the West Nusa Tenggara police headquarters.

Another 20 cars are needed to safeguard the main event, while the Bali police only have three vehicles available for that deployment at this time.

Meetings are now underway with the National Police headquarters to secure sufficient police vehicles for the Summit.

Outside the lack of vehicles, Bali’s top policeman assured the public that his forces were well trained, well equipped and ready to safeguard the important APEC event.

Wachyunadi shared with the press plans to increase controls at all Island entrances prior to APEC and along all main protocol routes.

Intense security surveys and drills are underway at all hotels and major meeting venues slated for use by the official delegation.