DENPASAR, BALINEWS – Denpasar Police Chief Commissioner I Wayan Winaya has announced plans to strengthen nighttime and early-morning patrols to maintain public safety and security in Denpasar, positioning the city as a key showcase of Bali’s tourism industry.
Winaya said he would personally lead the patrols, which are scheduled to run from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. The operations will focus on locations and time periods identified as vulnerable based on security assessments.
"We recognize that the public wants to see police officers present in their communities. That is why we will conduct patrols tonight, from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m.," Winaya said during the monthly #NgopiSantuy discussion organized by the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Online Journalists Association (IWO) in Denpasar on Saturday (October 31, 2026).
According to Winaya, a stronger police presence on the streets is one of the measures being taken to maintain a stable security situation. He noted that Denpasar holds a strategic position as Bali’s provincial capital and a major center for public activities and tourism.
He explained that patrol schedules are determined through operational assessments rather than arbitrarily. The Denpasar Police Operations Division analyzes security conditions, including identifying periods when the risk of public disturbances may increase.
As a result, patrol patterns and schedules are adjusted according to security risks and changing public activity on the ground.
Beyond strengthening patrols, Winaya also emphasized the importance of reporting Bali's security situation accurately and proportionately. He cautioned against using a single criminal incident in one location as a basis for judging the security conditions across Denpasar or the entire island.
"How significant is the insecurity at one particular location in relation to the wider geographical area? That needs to be assessed. We cannot generalize," he stressed.
Winaya said security assessments should take into account the location of an incident, the geographical area affected, and its broader impact on overall security conditions.
He also highlighted how reports of criminal incidents can affect Bali's tourism image. As an example, he referred to a high-profile dismemberment case involving a Russian national in 2025, which attracted widespread public attention.
In this regard, he encouraged the media, particularly online news outlets, to provide balanced and proportionate information about security conditions in Denpasar to audiences across Indonesia and beyond.
He said public information should accurately reflect conditions on the ground so that an individual criminal incident does not automatically create the impression that the entire island of Bali is unsafe.
The discussion was part of #NgopiSantuy, a monthly initiative organized by the Bali chapter of IWO under the leadership of its chairwoman, Tri Widiyanti.
The event was attended by representatives of IWO's Denpasar City and Badung Regency branches, as well as executives and members of the provincial organization.
Through the forum, IWO Bali provides journalists with an opportunity to raise questions directly with policymakers, obtain information, and convey public concerns.
IWO Bali hopes the #NgopiSantuy program will serve as a bridge between the media and policymakers while promoting greater transparency and open communication on strategic issues affecting the people of Bali.
