Rowdy teenagers have prompted Buleleng Police to impose a curfew on the popular hangout spot situated north of Taman Kota, Singaraja, reports Tribun Bali.
With 45 vendors generally selling from evening to night, Taman Kota is frequented by many citizens from the surrounding area, particularly by teenagers who often adopt the spot as their regular hangout/eating joint until the early hours of the night.
Not so long ago, however, an incident occurred where a teenager was stabbed due to a fight that broke out.
This incident urged Buleleng police to encourage vendors to close their stalls before midnight. The police have also requested that park authorities cease wifi signals at 11 pm and add more lighting around the park.
The police also insisted that any teenagers who violate the curfew will face some sort of sanction, although they haven’t specified what the sanction will be yet.
One park vendor, who has been operating in Taman Kota for 15 years, told Tribun Bali that she supported the curfew because it will lead to a more peaceful and conducive environment. She added that the midnight curfew is not going to be an issue for her, because that’s the time that she usually closes up her shop.
However, the Managing Director of the local markets body (Buleleng region), admitted that there is no formal co-ordination as of yet between them and the police with regards to the curfew. He is awaiting formal notification from the police and will co-ordinate with the vendors first and foremost before finalizing any decisions.
He added that while he supports improving the safety and wellbeing of Buleleng, teenagers are not the only Taman Kota customers. “Adults also frequent Taman Kota, and the vendors here need to make a living,” he concluded.
Perhaps it’s time to make a request for security guards so that someone is supervising the naughty teenagers?
Photo: Flickr
