Indonesian National Police


The Indonesian National Police is the national law enforcement and police force of the Republic of Indonesia. Founded on 19 August 1945 and became an independent agency on 1 July 1946, it was formerly a part of the country's military since 1962. The police were formally separated from the armed forces on 1 April 1999 in a process which was formally completed on 1 July 1999.
The total personnel that the Indonesian National Police possesses in 2020 is 440,000, and the number is increasing every year, it includes 34,000 Brimob personnel, with up-to 7,000 water and aviation police personnel. Polri is also assisted by an estimated 1,7 million members of Senkom Mitra Polri volunteers throughout the country which are civilians that assist the police. The headquarters of the Indonesian National Police is located in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta and the Indonesian National Police emergency number is 110 which serves all over Indonesia 24 hours. The Indonesian National Police also takes part in international United Nations missions, and, after special training, provided security for the UNAMID mission to protect internally-displaced people in Darfur.
The organization is under the direct auspices of the President of Indonesia. The Indonesian National Police is responsible for law enforcement and policing duties all over Indonesia. The organization has a history of corruption, violence/brutality, and misconduct.

History

While Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule, police duties were performed either by military establishments or the colonial police, known as the Veldpolitie or field police. Japanese occupation during World War II brought changes when the Japanese formed various armed organisations to support their war effort. This led to militarily-trained youths being armed with confiscated Dutch arms to perform police duties.
After the Japanese occupation, the national police became an armed organization. The Indonesian police was established on 19 August 1945 and its units fought in the Indonesian National Revolution against the invading Dutch forces. The police would later be renamed the National Police Service under the Ministry of Home Affairs and on 1 June 1946, it became an independent agency under the prime minister. The police also participated in suppressing the 1948 communist revolt in Madiun. In 1962, the police was brought under the control of the Commander of the National Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, becoming the Indonesian Police Forces. Following the proclamation of independence, the police played a vital role when they actively supported the people's movement toa dismantle the Japanese army, and to strengthen the defence of the newly created Republic of Indonesia. The police were one of the non-combatants who were required to surrender their weapons to the Allied forces. During the Indonesian National Revolution, the police gradually formed into what is now known as Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia or the Indonesian National Police. On 21 June 1962, the National Police was integrated under the Armed Forces and changed its name to Angkatan Kepolisian, and its commander maintained the concurrent status of Minister of Defense and Security, reporting to the President, who is commander in chief. The commanding generals and the Chief of the National Police then all held ministerial status as members of the cabinet of the republic, while a number of higher-ranking officers were appointed to other cabinet posts. On 1 July 1969, the Police Force's name was reverted to "Polri". In April 1999, the police force officially regained its independence and since then has been a separate force from the armed forces proper.
1 July, which became National Police Day, honours the anniversary of the 1946 Cabinet resolution placing the INP as a national agency subordinated directly to the government of the Republic and thus responsible to the President.

Duties and tasks

The key tasks of the Indonesian National Police are to:
  • maintain security and public order;
  • enforce the law, and
  • provide protection, and service to the community.
In carrying out these basic tasks, police are to:
  • perform control, guard, escort and patrol of the community and government activities as needed;
  • supply all activities to ensure the safety and smoothness of vehicular traffic on every kind of roadway,
  • develop community awareness in the development of national law;
  • implement order and ensure public safety;
  • implement co-ordination, supervision, and technical guidance to the investigators, civil servants/authorities, and the forms of private security;
  • implement the investigation against all criminal acts in accordance with the criminal procedure law and other legislation;
  • implement identification such as police medical operations, psychology, and police forensic laboratory for the interests of the tasks set by the service,
  • protect soul safety, property, society, and the environment from disturbances and/or disaster, including providing aid and relief to uphold human rights;
  • serve interests of citizens for a while before it is handled by the agency and/or authorities;
  • give services to the public in accordance with the interests of the police task environment;
  • implement other duties in accordance with the Constitution and legislative acts, which in practice are regulated by Government Regulation;
  • receive reports and/or complaints;
  • perform crowd and public control;
  • help resolve community disputes that may interfere with the public order;
  • supervise the flow that can lead to the dismemberment or threaten the unity of the nation;
  • publicise police regulations within the scope of police administrative authority;
  • implement special examination as part of the police identification;
  • respond first and rapid action to a scene;
  • take the identity, fingerprints and photograph of a person for identification purposes;
  • look for information and evidence;
  • organise National Crime Information Centre;
  • issue licence and / or certificate that is required to service the community;
  • give security assistance in the trial and execution of court decisions, the activities of other agencies, as well as community activities; and
  • receive, secure, and keep lost items located and found for a while until further identification

    Hierarchy

The organization of the Indonesian National Police is hierarchical, headed by the POLRI general headquarters in Kebayoran Baru. There is no differentiation between the central organization with its regional components.
  • Regional Police Force which covers an entire province and is headed by a two-star police general. It was formerly known as Police Commissariats and Regional Police Commands.
  • Resort/Departmental Police Force which covers a city or regency and is usually headed by a police officer holding the rank of Police Chief Commissioner for urban areas and a Police Deputy Chief Commissioner for rural areas. It was formerly known as Resort/Departmental Police Commands.
  • Sectoral Police Force which covers a district and is usually headed by a police officer holding the rank of Police Commissioner for urban areas and a Police Deputy Commissioner for rural areas. Meanwhile, in Papua there are Polseks which are headed by officers with lesser ranks, such as Police Inspectors.
  • *Community Police Officers are senior NCOs/Sub-Inspectors of Police officers which are coordinated under the Sectoral Police office. They are tasked in mentoring, supervising, and maintaining law and order in a particular smaller community which usually covers an urban village and/or a rural village. They are identified by their yellow brassard printed "BHABINKAMTIBMAS" and are tasked to monitor local community activities such as during elections and/or other community gathering occasions.
Until 2010, there was also a police force division called Territorial Police Force positioned between Polda and Polres. Polwils' divisions were based on Dutch East Indian residencies. The legacy of Polwils remain on the vehicle code on Indonesian vehicle registration plates.

Organization

Leadership elements

The leadership elements headed not only the Police Force General Headquarters in Jakarta, but also the entire Indonesian National Police Force.
  • Chief of the Indonesian National Police. He is appointed by and answerable only to the President of Indonesia; and
  • Deputy Chief of the Indonesian National Police, who assists the Chief in managing the administration of the Police, representing the Chief in official duties, as well as executing other orders by the Chief.

    Leadership support elements

Inspectorate
  • General Inspectorate of the National Police, tasked with assisting the Chief in the implementation of supervision as well as conducting general inspection and treasury within the National Police including non-structural organizational units under the control of chief of national police.
Assistants to the Chief of Police
  • Assistant to the Chief of Police for Operations, tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of operational management functions within the police environment including external coordination and cooperation as well as community empowerment and other POLRI auxiliary elements.
  • Assistant to the Chief of Police for General Planning and Budget, tasked to assist the Chief of Police in the implementation of general planning and budgetary functions, including the development of organizational and management systems and research and development within the Indonesian national police.
  • Assistant to the Chief of Police for Human Resources, tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of human resources management functions, including efforts to maintain and improve the welfare of personnel within the Indonesian national police.
  • Assistant to the Chief of Police for Law Enforcement Facilities and Infrastructure, tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of the function of facilities and infrastructure within the National Police.
  • Assistant to the Chief of Police for Logistics tasked with assisting the Chief of Police in the implementation of Police logistical efforts.
Divisions
  • Professional and Security Division is the special staffing element in the field of professional accountability and internal security. This division acts as the internal affairs of the Police Force, in charge of enforcement of discipline and law and order of police personnel.
  • Legal Division serves as the legal office for the Chief of Police, tasked with the provision of legal research, legal support, legal advices, legal development, legal guidance, and human rights support within the Police Force.
  • Public Affairs and Press Division tasked with maintaining the public image and relations of the Police Force, as well as providing publicly-accessible Police data, information, and documentations.
  • International Relations Division is an assistant element of international relations leadership that is under the Chief of Police. This section also oversees the Indonesian National Crime Bureau Interpol, to deal with transnational crimes.
  • Police Information Technology Division, is a supporting element in the field of informatics which includes information technology and electronic communications.
Advisory Staff
The Advisory Staff to the Chief of Police advises the Chief of Police regarding strategic matters. The advisory staff consists of:
  • Advisory Staff Coordinator, which coordinates the advisory staff's workflow;
  • Advisor to the Chief of Police for Socio-Cultural Affairs ;
  • Advisor to the Chief of Police for Political Affairs ;
  • Advisor to the Chief of Police for Economic Affairs ; and
  • Advisor to the Chief of Police for Management.