A special patrol will assist tourists in Bali

Perhaps the cutest police unit is already at work in Bali. Smiling young officers in crisp white polo shirts, shorts, and khaki-colored hats patrol the busiest streets, beaches, and landmarks to be there for tourists when they need assistance or have questions about what is allowed and what isn't on the island. To further endear themselves to travelers, they occasionally patrol with puppies.

Local media describe this new unit of the Civil Service Police (Satpol PP) formed in Bali specifically to work with tourists. It sounds great, as always. We will find out the practical results soon.

The head of the Civil Service Police unit in the province of Bali, Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi, believes that thanks to these new patrols, there will be fewer tourists behaving inappropriately on the island. Their main task is to maintain order and address common violations.

He stated, "Solving this problem completely is still impossible, but we can minimize disorder, especially at tourist attractions. [...] We are not alone. We are collaborating with our colleagues and administrators of tourist attractions."

A total of 73 officers are already working in this capacity. Forty-two of them will be assigned to the Badung region, while the others will inspect tourist attractions in other parts of the island. They plan to work in two shifts: from morning until noon and from noon until 9 in the evening.

Tourism municipal police officers have undergone training to provide support to tourists, ensure public peace, and maintain order. They can confidently communicate in English. Essentially, they are police officers who have also acquired tour guide skills. They should be ready to answer any questions that tourists may have. Tourists can approach them for assistance with translation if something is unclear. Moreover, if they observe tourists breaking the law or showing disrespect to the local culture, they will intervene and help rectify the situation.

However, they also promise to intervene in cases where traders or guides decide to deceive travelers. In all these cases, the focus is on preventing any violations rather than punishing for committed offenses.

Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, the chief of the Badung police, explained: "Until now, social issues related to tourism in Bali, especially in terms of peace, order, and safety, are usually addressed after an incident occurs. We want to change the paradigm and the problem-solving model related to tourism in Bali, namely to prioritize preemptive and/or preventive efforts."

Tourism municipal police officers, in particular, will inform travelers about local norms and culture so that foreigners can avoid actions considered disrespectful, especially in sacred places in Buleleng (the northern part of the island).

Sometimes, dogs will be involved in patrolling. There are currently five of them on the team. The six-month-old puppies underwent training over the last three months. Interestingly, these are not classical service dogs or sniffing dogs. Yes, they are trained to support officers "in cases of increased pressure." However, as the Balinese police state, their main task is to bring smiles to the faces of tourists and positively engage people, making it easier for travelers to start conversations with the police.

According to trainers, the dogs are well-socialized, vaccinated, so they are ready to interact not only with adult tourists but also with children. Moreover, they have even been trained to sit still for photographs if tourists decide to take selfies with the patrols.

All of this sets the municipal tourist police apart from the previous tourist police on Bali. The former ensures compliance with local regulations and preserves the culture and customs of the island (everything not related to crime), while the latter catches and punishes those committing criminal offenses, such as thefts and robberies.

Sources: Antara, Kabupaten Buleleng, Detik Bali, Bali bisnis, Viva, Nusa Bali.