On Proposal to Streamline National Police Headquarters and Strengthen Sub-District Police Stations, This is the Police Chief's Response

Proposals to streamline the National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) and strengthen sub-district police stations (Polsek) have gained traction following input from the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform (KPRP). In response, Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo emphasised that internal structural improvements within the National Police are already in progress. The spotlight emerged after assessments deemed the current police organisational structure lopsided. Mabes Polri is considered overly large, while service capabilities at the Polsek level are described as still weak. Addressing the issue, Sigit stated that the National Police has undertaken several improvements in organisational governance, including in human resources (HRM) and institutional structure. “I think that serves as discussion material but not a recommendation. So the recommendations are already in place; we have made improvements in terms of governance, both comprehensively, starting from HRM, then organisational structure, and so on,” he said on Thursday, 7 May 2026. The Police Chief explained that the National Police’s organisational structure cannot be rigid because it must follow developments in situations and field needs. Therefore, certain parts can be trimmed, while others need to be strengthened. “So the developments in the existing situation will of course determine the future structure of the National Police. So there are things that we then compact, but there are also things that we must develop. I think we are flexible in that regard,” he said. For context, Secretary of the Commission for Accelerating Police Reform, retired Commissioner General Ahmad Dofiri, revealed input from retired officers regarding the need for reform in the National Police’s organisational structure. According to Dofiri, the initial spirit of police reform promoted the concept of a small Mabes, adequate Polda, large Polres, and strong Polsek. However, the current situation is assessed to have changed significantly. “The initial reform actually had a term for it: small Mabes, adequate Polda, large Polres, and strong Polsek. Now the condition is lopsided. So the National Police organisation at Mabes is large, while at Polsek it is weak, something like that,” said Dofiri. He stated that future improvements will focus on the organisational structure and internal work processes of the National Police, particularly to strengthen services at the lower levels up to Polsek.