Police Reform Team Proposes to President that Kompolnas Become an Independent Institution

Members of the National Police Reform Acceleration Commission (KPRP), Mahfud MD, stated that they have proposed to President Prabowo Subianto that the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) become an independent institution. According to Mahfud, the proposal is included in the six points of recommendations from the KPRP study, which were submitted to the President on Tuesday (5/6). “It will be revised so that Kompolnas is declared an institution—my wording, the legislative phrasing is up to them—an independent institution that serves as the external overseer of the Police, funded by the state budget,” Mahfud said during a press conference in the Dharmawangsa area, Jakarta, on Wednesday (6/5). According to him, the proposal will be incorporated into the revision of Law No. 2 of 2002 on the Police at the House of Representatives (DPR). Thus, Kompolnas in the future will no longer be merely an institution tasked with assisting in formulating policies to the President regarding the Police. Moreover, in extraordinary cases, said Mahfud, Kompolnas could have the authority to conduct examinations. “That’s what was explained earlier; Mr. Dofiri said it will become stronger, with the authority to examine if there are extraordinary matters,” Mahfud stated. As a result, Kompolnas decisions will be executory and still coordinated with the Police. This means the Police must follow the recommendations from Kompolnas. “That means if Kompolnas says this to the Police, it must be like this. If necessary, sanction decisions must also be brought through Kompolnas; the mechanism is regulated accordingly. And the decisions will become stronger,” he said. The position of Kompolnas is regulated in several articles of the Police Law. Article 38 regulates the duties of Kompolnas, namely: “a. assisting the President in determining the direction of policies for the Republic of Indonesia National Police; and b. providing considerations to the President in the appointment and dismissal of the National Police Chief. Secondly, in carrying out the duties as referred to in paragraph 1, Kompolnas, among others, is authorised to: collect and analyse data as material for providing advice to the President related to the Police budget. Then, provide advice and considerations to the President to realise a professional and independent Police; and receive advice and complaints from the public regarding police performance and convey them to the President.