The National Police top brass waded into a row in Semarang on Thursday after 50 officers from its specialist unit, the Mobile Brigade, were found to have visited a Central Java police station looking for a fight because one of their number had received an insulting text message from a police officer.

"They have been confronted and are conscious that they have made a mistake," Deputy National Police Chief Comr. Gen. Nanan Sukarna. "That is the important thing." Nana confirmed three people had been injured in the brawl.

It is understood the incident at Central Java Sabhara police in the early hours of Thursday was sparked after an officer from the Sabhara unit, which conducts patrols and provides security details, allegedly sent a SMS message to someone in the Brimob.

Nanan did not elaborate but said that those involved in the brawl were recent recruits. "They are those who just recently graduated," he said, declining to comment on whether any sanctions would be handed down to those involved.

"From their headquarters in Srondol, they came to ask about the SMS," Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Dwi Priyatno said.

Around 50 Brimob members, who were not wearing uniform, arrived on motorcycles looking for a particular Sabhara member. Predictably, a fight ensued, after which the Brimob members left the scene. This is the latest reported altercation among the police.