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Indonesia tourist police — when and how to use them

What the tourist police do, where to find them in Bali, Jakarta and Yogyakarta, and what to do if you're a victim of crime.

3 min read

Indonesia's tourist police (POLPAR / Polisi Pariwisata) are dedicated police units in major tourist areas tasked with helping visitors with crime reports, lost documents and disputes. They usually speak English and are generally more helpful for foreigners than the general police. In Bali, Yogyakarta, Lombok, Jakarta and a handful of other destinations they have dedicated offices.

What tourist police do

  • File a crime report (laporan polisi) in English
  • Help with stolen passport reports (required for embassy replacement)
  • Mediate disputes with local businesses, hotels, drivers
  • Help with traffic incidents and scooter rentals gone wrong
  • Provide referrals to embassies and hospitals
  • Assist with lost-found items at known tourist venues

What they don't do

  • Replace your passport — that's the embassy
  • Reverse insurance or scam financial losses — that's banking/insurance/legal
  • Get you out of major legal trouble — get a lawyer immediately
  • Provide medical care — go to a hospital

Where they are (main offices)

Bali

  • Tourist Police HQ Kuta — Jl. Pantai Kuta, near Kuta beach
  • Tourist Police Ubud — central Ubud
  • Tourist Police Sanur — Sanur main strip
  • Tourist Police Nusa Dua — within BTDC complex
  • Phone (Bali tourism police general): +62 361 224 111

Yogyakarta

  • Tourist Police HQ — near Malioboro
  • Phone: +62 274 562 811

Jakarta

  • Tourist Police — central Jakarta and at Soekarno-Hatta Airport
  • Embassy district services in Kuningan/Menteng

Lombok

  • Tourist Police — Senggigi area
  • Mataram police HQ for serious matters

If you're a victim of crime

  1. Move to safety first — get away from the situation
  2. Treat any medical needs — hospital first if needed
  3. Call your insurance company — many policies require notification within 24 hours
  4. Go to tourist police office — bring passport
  5. Get a written police report (BAP — Berita Acara Pemeriksaan) — required for insurance claims and embassy
  6. Notify your embassy for passport/serious matters
  7. Notify your bank/cards if cards were stolen

Documentation to bring

  • Passport (or copy if original was stolen — then go to embassy first)
  • Visa or KITAS
  • Insurance card
  • Description of incident with times and locations
  • Any photo or video evidence
  • Names and contact details of witnesses

What to expect

  • Initial visit may take 1–3 hours
  • You may be asked to return for the formal BAP
  • Translation can vary in quality — bring an Indonesian-speaking friend or hire a fixer (USD 30–50) if available
  • Don't pay any "fees" beyond stamp duty (~IDR 6,000–10,000)
  • Be polite and patient; aggressive behaviour is counterproductive in Indonesia

Scooter incident specifically

For a scooter accident:

  1. Treat injuries
  2. Photograph the scene
  3. Call your insurance
  4. Police involvement is mandatory if there's significant property damage or injury
  5. Do not admit liability or pay cash on the scene to "settle quickly" — this is a common trap

Common mistakes

  • Going to the regular police station instead of tourist police (slower, less English)
  • Trying to negotiate on the scene without a witness
  • Skipping the police report because "it's only a small amount" — insurance will refuse claims
  • Paying informal "fines" without a receipt
  • Being aggressive or threatening — Indonesians take great offence and you'll lose any goodwill

Verify before acting

Note current tourist police office addresses and phone numbers from your hotel concierge on arrival — locations and contact details change. See disclaimer.

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