National Police Chief: PPA-PPO Directorate Expanded to 11 Regional and 22 District Commands

The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has expanded its Directorate for Women and Children’s Crimes and Human Trafficking Eradication (PPA-PPO) to 11 regional police commands (Polda) and 22 district police stations (Polres). National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that the majority of these units are staffed by policewomen to ensure more responsive case handling with a victim-centred perspective. “This commitment is reinforced through the development of the PPA and PPO Crime Directorates at 11 Polda and 22 Polres, which are predominantly staffed by policewomen so that case handling can be carried out more responsively, creating a sense of safety and comfort for victims, especially women and children,” Sigit said during a speech commemorating the 75th Bhayangkara Day, observed online from Jakarta on Wednesday. He explained that strengthening the PPA-PPO function is part of police service reform for vulnerable groups and ensures that law enforcement processes are not solely focused on prosecuting perpetrators but also on providing protection and assistance to victims. This commitment is reflected in the handling of several high-profile cases, including alleged violence against 110 children at a daycare centre involving 13 suspects, the alleged confinement of a woman in Bandung, West Java, and the uncovering of an online love scam case using the “pig butchering” modus operandi, which ensnared 39 suspects, including 11 foreign nationals. In addition to strengthening protections for women and children, Polri has opened more inclusive service opportunities by recruiting 21 individuals with disabilities as police members. In the field of human resource development, Polri recruited 160 accomplished athletes through a talent scouting pathway as part of a recruitment system that prioritises meritocracy, transparency, and accountability. Sigit affirmed that the reinforcement of the PPA-PPO function aims to optimise the handling of criminal offences of government concern while improving the quality of service and protection for the public, particularly vulnerable groups, through professional law enforcement responsive to victims’ needs.