Revised Police Law: Persons with Disabilities Can Now Become Police Officers

The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) officially ratified the third amendment to Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police during the 21st plenary meeting of the fifth session of 2025-2026 on Tuesday (9/5). Among the new provisions is a regulation that allows persons with disabilities to become police personnel provided they meet the requirements. The rule is stipulated in Article 21 paragraph (2) of the revised law on the third amendment to Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (RUU Polri). The article states, “Indonesian citizens with disabilities may be appointed as members of the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia as long as they possess the competencies required by the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia.” The full content of Article 21 of the Police Law includes standard requirements for candidates, such as being an Indonesian citizen, having faith and devotion to God Almighty, loyalty to the state, minimum senior high school education, minimum age of 18, physical and spiritual health, no criminal record, and passing police education and training. It further clarifies that further provisions regarding the appointment requirements and the development of police members shall be regulated by a National Police Regulation. Previously, Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej stated that the amendments discussed in the Police Law revision only touched on certain specific substances. He noted that the bill did not require a long deliberation, containing 20 substances with 7 new materials for discussion. Some of these substances relate to police duties, the affirmation for persons with disabilities to be recruited based on specific expertise they hold, and social security matters including health. The revision also sets a retirement age of 59 years for Non-Commissioned Officers (Bintara and Tamtama), while the age for Officers, from First Officer up to High-Ranking Officer, is set at 60 years. Additionally, the law regulates the assignment of police officers outside the institutional structure, aligning it with the mandate of Article 30 paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution regarding police functions in maintaining public security and order, public protection and service, and law enforcement.