Six Key Police Reform Recommendations Submitted to President Prabowo

The Commission for the Acceleration of Police Reform officially submitted its comprehensive recommendation document to President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 5). The culmination of three months of intensive work, the report spans over 3,000 pages across 10 volumes, accompanied by a concise 13-page summary.

This ambitious roadmap outlines six core pillars for police reform, emphasizing that the National Police (Polri) will remain under the authority of the President. The recommendations also uphold the existing mechanism for the appointment of the National Police Chief, ensuring stability in institutional leadership.

Key proposals include strengthening the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) and revising the National Police Law. A significant portion of the recommendations focuses on restricting the placement of police officers in non-police positions, aiming to enhance institutional focus and professionalism.

Furthermore, the document advocates for a sweeping transformation in institutional and managerial governance. This includes optimizing operational and human resource management, improving budgetary and logistical transparency, strengthening oversight systems, and accelerating digital transformation through the Polri Super App.

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Jimly Asshiddiqie, Chairman of the Commission for the Acceleration of Police Reform, explained that the guidelines serve as a blueprint for both government policy and internal police restructuring. The commission suggests that the proposed legislative changes be supported by secondary regulations, including Government Regulations, Presidential Regulations, and Presidential Instructions.

The internal reform agenda is equally extensive, requiring revisions to eight Police Regulations and 24 Chief of Police Regulations. “We expect these reforms to be completed by 2029. What we have produced is not merely a short-term agenda,” Jimly stated during the press conference.

Key Highlights of the Reform Recommendations

The Positioning of the National Police
Addressing internal debates regarding the potential formation of a Security Ministry, Jimly clarified that the commission ultimately advised against it. After consulting with President Prabowo, the consensus reached was that the potential drawbacks outweighed the benefits, leading the commission to exclude the ministry’s formation from their proposal.

Appointment of the National Police Chief
The commission also evaluated the appointment process for the National Police Chief. While some members suggested removing the requirement for DPR (House of Representatives) approval, the President directed that the current system be maintained. Consequently, the appointment of the National Police Chief and the TNI Commander will continue to follow the existing legislative process requiring parliamentary oversight.

Strengthening Kompolnas
President Prabowo has expressed support for elevating the role of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas). The goal is to make the commission’s decisions and recommendations legally binding, thereby providing it with the necessary authority to exercise effective oversight. Additionally, the commission proposes moving away from an ex-officio membership structure toward a more independent model to ensure the institution operates with greater autonomy and effectiveness.

Revising the National Police Law
The cornerstone of these reforms is the revision of Law No. 2 of 2002 regarding the Indonesian National Police. This amendment will serve as the legal foundation for the strengthened role of Kompolnas and set strict guidelines for placing police officers in external positions, ensuring these assignments align with the principles of accountability and professional duty.

The government, via the Ministry of Law, is currently preparing the draft for submission to the DPR. Although parliamentary discussions have been temporarily delayed, the Minister of Law is expected to introduce the updated provisions shortly.

Restricting External Placements
The commission also tackled the issue of police officers holding positions outside the institution. President Prabowo has mandated that such placements be limited to specific, authorized roles, mirroring the restrictions found within the TNI Law. Jimly emphasized that current practices lack clear limits, and the new regulation will provide the necessary legal boundaries to prevent overreach.

Institutional and Managerial Reform
Finally, the reform package mandates that all police functions adhere to high standards of bureaucratic governance. This involves a structural, instrumental, and cultural overhaul. The managerial aspects—ranging from leadership systems and internal oversight to digital transformation—will be monitored using clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure technical execution.

The press conference was attended by prominent figures, including former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and Deputy Coordinating Minister Otto Hasibuan. Also present were Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas, Special Advisor to the President for Security Ahmad Dofiri, and former and current police leadership, including Idham Aziz and General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian and former police chief Badrodin Haiti were unable to attend.