Ensuring Police Position Restrictions Are More Than Just Administrative Rules...

Plans to restrict Indonesian National Police (Polri) members from holding positions outside the police institution form part of the recommendations submitted by the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform directly to President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.

These recommendations are directed at clarifying which positions Polri members may occupy outside the police structure through revisions to the Polri Law and its implementing regulations.

To date, many active Polri members have occupied positions in ministries and state institutions, ranging from inspectors general and secretaries general to expert staff and other bureaucratic roles not directly related to police functions.

According to Bambang, these restrictions merely confirm the expansion of police roles into civilian spaces without clear boundaries.

He assessed that the policy could potentially become merely an administrative rule if not accompanied by strict criteria, strong oversight mechanisms, and clear sanctions.

“Without strict criteria, strong oversight mechanisms, and clear sanctions, these restrictions could end up as just administrative rules—neat on paper but lax in practice,” Bambang told Kompas.com on Thursday (7/5/2026).

According to Isnur, the police should focus on carrying out their primary duties in the fields of security, law enforcement, and public service.

“The police should indeed focus on security matters. On internal police affairs alone. They should not interfere with other ministerial institutions,” said Isnur.

He assessed that the police’s workload is already very heavy, so it does not need to be expanded further with the placement of Polri members in civilian positions.

“Managing security alone is already very troublesome. There’s already so much—handling law, security, and then services. There are so many things in the police,” he said.

Isnur emphasised that if Polri members wish to hold civilian positions outside police functions, they should resign from the institution. “Even if placement is desired, they must resign,” said Isnur.

“Except for certain positions mandated by law. For example, in the BNN, in the BNPT,” he added.