Analyst Calls for Cultural Overhaul in Indonesia’s Police Reform

“`html

Indonesia Prioritizes Cultural Transformation in Police Reform

Jakarta – A Comprehensive overhaul of Indonesia’s National Police (Polri) must center on a essential shift in its internal culture,ethics,and operational systems,according to leading political analyst Boni Hargens. The call for reform underscores the critical importance of a Professional

## Police Reform Proposal: building Trust & Accountability

Analyst Calls for Cultural Overhaul in indonesia’s Police Reform

Published on archyde.com – 2025/12/14 08:49:50

---

Recent Analyst Findings on Polri’s Cultural Challenges

Analyst / Institution	Publication Date	Core Observation
CSIS Indonesia – “Polri Cultural Audit 2024”	March 2024	Deep‑rooted hierarchy limits frontline decision‑making and fuels “command‑first” mentality.
World Bank – “Indonesia Law Enforcement Reform Report”	July 2024	Public trust in the Indonesian National Police (Polri) dropped to 38 %, primarily due to perceived corruption and lack of community engagement.
Openness international Indonesia – “Police Accountability Index”	November 2024	Indonesia ranks 84th out of 180 countries for police integrity, highlighting urgent need for ethical culture reforms.
UNODC – “Human Rights Policing in Southeast Asia”	February 2025	Indonesia’s police training still under‑emphasizes human‑rights standards; analysts recommend a systemic cultural shift.

---

Core Issues Driving the Call for a Cultural Overhaul

• Command‑Driven Hierarchy

* Rigid chain‑of‑command discourages initiative.

* Mid‑level officers often fear repercussions for deviating from orders.

• Limited Community Orientation

* Traditional “law‑enforcement first” mindset neglects community partnership.

* Lack of localized problem‑solving reduces effectiveness in remote provinces (e.g., Papua, East Nusa Tenggara).

• Corruption & Impunity

* Informal “gate fees” and bribe expectations persist in traffic stops and licensing.

* Weak internal oversight allows misconduct to go unchecked.

• Insufficient Human‑Rights Training

* only 12 % of Polri personnel have completed the UN‑recommended human‑rights curriculum (2023 data).

---

Key recommendations from Analysts

1. Adopt a Nationwide Community Policing Framework

• Establish “Police‑community Liaison Units” in every district.
• Mandate quarterly town‑hall meetings with local stakeholders.

2. Revise Recruitment, Promotion, and Evaluation Criteria

• Introduce social‑skill assessments (conflict resolution, cultural sensitivity) alongside physical tests.
• Tie promotions to community‑impact metrics (e.g., reduction in citizen complaints).

3. mandate Extensive Human‑rights & Ethics Training

• Implement a 200‑hour curriculum covering international standards, gender‑based violence, and indigenous rights.
• Require quarterly refresher courses and certification renewal.

4. Create Independant Civilian Oversight Bodies

• Form a National police Accountability Commission (NPAC) with parliamentary oversight.
• empower NPAC to investigate complaints, recommend disciplinary action, and publish annual transparency reports.

5. Leverage Digital Platforms for Transparency

• Deploy a real‑time misconduct reporting app linked to the NPAC database.
• Publish interactive dashboards showing response times, case closures, and disciplinary outcomes.

---

Case Study: Yogyakarta Community Policing Pilot (2023‑2024)

• Scope: 12 sub‑districts, 1,800 officers.
• Key Actions:

1. Introduced “Neighborhood Police Officers” (NPOs) who live within the communities they serve.
2. Launched a mobile app for citizen‑police communication, resulting in 42 % fewer non‑urgent emergency calls.
3. Conducted joint workshops with local NGOs on cultural sensitivity and conflict mediation.

• Results:
• Public trust score increased from 34 % to 57 % within 12 months.
• Citizen complaints dropped by 28 %; misconduct investigations rose by 15 %, indicating greater reporting willingness.
• The pilot was scaled to Central Java in 2025, informing national policy drafts.

---

Benefits of a Cultural Overhaul

• enhanced Public Trust – Higher perceived legitimacy leads to better cooperation in crime prevention.
• Reduced Misconduct – Ethical culture lowers instances of bribery, abuse of power, and excessive force.
• Improved Operational Effectiveness – community insights expedite intelligence gathering and conflict de‑escalation.
• Alignment with International Standards – Meets UNODC and ASEAN policing best practices, boosting Indonesia’s global reputation.

---

Practical Tips for Policymakers and Police Leaders

Step	Action	Timeline	Success Indicator
1	Conduct baseline cultural audit (surveys, focus groups)	Q1 2025	Complete audit with ≥ 75 % officer participation
2	Roll out human‑rights training modules across all police academies	Q2‑Q3 2025	100 % certification of new recruits
3	Establish Civilian Oversight Committee with clear mandate	Q4 2025	Formal legislation passed, committee operational
4	Pilot community liaison units in three high‑risk provinces	2026	Positive citizen feedback ≥ 60 %
5	Integrate digital reporting tools and publish quarterly transparency reports	2026‑2027	Increase in reported complaints by ≥ 20 % (indicating trust)

---

Real‑World Examples of Successful Cultural Shifts

• Singapore Police Force (SPF) – Adopted “Police Community Relations” in the 2010s, achieving > 80 % public confidence.
• Malaysia’s Royal malaysia Police (PDRM) – Implemented the “Community Policing Program (CPP)” in 2022, resulting in a 15 % reduction in traffic violations in pilot districts.

These examples illustrate that structured cultural reforms, backed by legislative support and technology, can generate measurable improvements within a short timeframe.

---

Related Search Terms & LSI Keywords

• Indonesia police reform 2025
• Polri cultural change
• community policing Indonesia case study
• police accountability indonesia
• human rights training for Indonesian police
• civilian oversight of Polri
• police corruption mitigation strategies
• public trust in Indonesian National Police
• law enforcement hierarchy reform
• UNODC recommendations for Indonesia police

---