Mass brawls or student brawls still frequently occur in various regions, although the trend is fluctuating.
According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), in 2014, student/student brawls occurred in 0.4% of Indonesian villages/sub-districts.
Then in 2018, the figure rose to 0.65%, but fell to 0.22% in 2021. This data indicates that in 2021, brawls decreased or disappeared altogether in a number of locations.
The decrease in the number of brawls was apparently also influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic situation, when in 2021 the government implemented policies restricting social activities, including face-to-face school activities.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) classifies brawls or mass brawls as criminal acts punishable by imprisonment.
The regulations are stated in Article 170 of the Criminal Code, which reads:
(1) Anyone who openly and jointly uses violence against persons or property shall be threatened with imprisonment for a maximum of five years and six months.
(2) The offender shall be threatened:
1. with imprisonment for a maximum of seven years, if he intentionally destroys property or if the violence used results in injuries;
2. with imprisonment for a maximum of nine years, if the violence results in serious injuries;
3. with imprisonment for a maximum of twelve years, if the violence results in death.
Perpetrators of brawls can also be charged under Article 358 of the Criminal Code, which reads:
Those who intentionally participate in an attack or brawl in which several people are involved, in addition to their individual responsibility for what they specifically did, are threatened:
1. with imprisonment for a maximum of two years and eight months, if the attack or brawl results in serious injuries;
2. with imprisonment for a maximum of four years, if it results in death.
In this regard, the South Jakarta Metro Police stated that they would include the history of brawl perpetrators in the Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK).
"Because, everyone applying for a job or anything else will definitely need an SKCK, which is sourced from previous actions. So, whatever this child (brawl perpetrator) does will be continuously recorded and carried," said the Deputy Chief of the South Jakarta Metro Police, AKBP Harun, as reported by Antara, Friday (19/5/2023).
"Maybe childhood dreams can also disappear because he (the brawl perpetrator) committed a crime, it will also be difficult to find a job," he continued.
AKBP Harun believes that this policy can encourage students to think long and hard before deciding to get involved in brawls.