Indonesia's Parliament Passes Amendment to the Police Law

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) passed amendments to the Police Law, including strengthening police services and oversight of police duties. However, some points passed are deemed controversial, including the potential of the police encroaching civilian affairs.

Amendments to Act Number 2 of 2002 on the Indonesian National Police (Polri) were approved during a plenary session in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The chairman of the House’s Commission III, Habiburokhman, said the amendments contain several key changes, including reaffirming police transformation, promoting values-based and humanistic police development, strengthening public services, and enhancing oversight by the National Police Commission.

"The first is a reaffirmation of the goals and direction of Polri’s transformation toward being open, transparent, professional, possessing integrity, and providing high-quality service to the public. (The other is) strengthening the oversight function and implementing the principle of transparency through the use of modern information and technology systems," he continued.

Representing the government, Minister of Law, Supratman, Andi Agtas, welcomed the passage of the amendments. He said that changes in the strategic environment, advances in information technology, and increasingly complex challenges to public security and order require the police to continue adapting and improving their capabilities.

"Therefore, the existence of a more responsive and adaptive legal framework has become an urgent necessity to ensure that the National Police can carry out its functions and authorities optimally in accordance with the demands of the times.

Supratman affirmed the duties of the police chief, who is responsible for organizing human capital training for officers and its facilities. He added that the new act now enable the police to recruit persons with disabilities.

The House of Representatives claims it ensured meaningful public participation in drafting the law. Habiburokhman earlier holding 12 public hearings and involving universities in 12 provinces, experts, community groups, and students.

However, the amendments contain several controversial provisions, including the possible expansion of civilian positions that may be held by police officers. Although the House said such appointments would be limited "in accordance" with the Constitutional Court ruling, some civil organizations see an unclear provision behind this allowance.

"The National Police Bill actually opens up vast opportunities for active police officers to occupy positions in ministries/institutions as long as they relate to police duties and functions, without clear limitations. (On the bill), this opportunity is granted at the discretion of the president or the ministry/institution," the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation stated on Tuesday.

"Placing (police) officers in ministries/institutions outside the police (institution) is clearly unconstitutional and will disrupt the professionalism of the police itself, including the career stages for civil servants and the merit system within the relevant ministries/institutions," the foundation added.