The Effectiveness of Medan City Police Strategies in Preventing Child Trafficking of Minors - Fernandus; Munthe, Riswan (International Journal of Islamic Education, Research and Multiculturalism (IJIERM), 2025)
Abstrak Fenomena perdagangan anak di Kota Medan menunjukkan peningkatan signifikan baik dari segi kuantitas maupun modus operandi, yang kini bergeser dari pola individual ke bentuk kelompok terorganisasi berbasis digital. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis efektivitas strategi kepolisian dalam mencegah perdagangan anak, dengan fokus pada transformasi tren kejahatan, kapasitas institusional, inisiatif pencegahan, kolaborasi masyarakat, serta kerangka kebijakan dan hukum. Metode penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif normatif-empiris, dengan unit analisis pada institusi Kepolisian Kota Medan. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi lapangan, dan analisis dokumen hukum serta laporan kelembagaan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya tren peningkatan kasus perdagangan anak yang signifikan, disertai pergeseran modus operandi ke platform digital. Kepolisian telah mengembangkan strategi pencegahan melalui sosialisasi masyarakat dan kerja sama dengan sekolah serta LSM, namun efektivitasnya terhambat oleh keterbatasan sumber daya manusia, dana, dan keahlian siber. Studi ini menegaskan perlunya penguatan kapasitas kelembagaan, kolaborasi multisektor, dan harmonisasi kebijakan untuk menghadapi perubahan pola kejahatan yang dinamis. Kata Kunci: perdagangan anak, pencegahan, kapasitas institusional, kolaborasi masyarakat, transformasi digital, kebijakan hukum Abstract The phenomenon of child trafficking in Medan City has shown a significant increase in both quantity and modus operandi, shifting from individual patterns to organized, digitally driven networks. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of police strategies in preventing child trafficking, focusing on crime trend transformations, institutional capacity, preventive initiatives, community collaboration, and legal–policy frameworks. The research employed a qualitative normative–empirical approach, with the Medan City Police as the unit of analysis. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and analysis of legal documents and institutional reports. The findings reveal a sharp upward trend in trafficking attempts, accompanied by a shift toward digital recruitment methods. While the police have expanded preventive efforts through community outreach, school programs, and NGO partnerships, these initiatives remain limited by insufficient personnel, funding, and cyber expertise. The study highlights the urgent need to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance multi-sectoral collaboration, and align policy frameworks to effectively address the evolving dynamics of child trafficking. Keywords: child trafficking, prevention, institutional capacity, community collaboration, digital transformation, legal policy