10 Essential Toothless-Inspired Police Reform Recommendations
The Police Reform Commission has formally submitted a series of recommendations to President Prabowo Subianto aimed at addressing systemic issues within the Indonesian National Police. The proposal, which comprises 10 distinct reports, outlines a comprehensive framework for policy changes intended to reshape the operational and administrative conduct of the force.
The submission follows long-standing scrutiny regarding the institutional integrity of the police, including concerns raised by human rights organizations. According to data from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the period between 2020 and 2024 saw 35 documented police shooting incidents that resulted in 94 deaths. Further reports from YLBHI indicate that in 2024, at least 35 individuals were detained without access to legal counsel and were subject to allegations of torture during investigations. The organization documented claims of extortion and sexual violence involving police detainees.
Parallel to these reform efforts, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has been moving toward the ratification of amendments to Law No. 2 of 2002. This legislative initiative, which began deliberations in February 2025, originated from a bill introduced in July 2024. The proposed amendments have faced criticism from human rights groups, including KontraS, which recorded 353 cases of police violence resulting in 410 deaths between 2020 and 2024. Of those fatalities, 27 were classified by the organization as extrajudicial killings.
Critics of the legislative amendment argue that the bill provides for an expansion of police authority without establishing necessary legal guardrails or accountability mechanisms. While the Police Reform Commission’s 10 reports seek to address these systemic challenges through policy reform and alternative implementation strategies, the legislative process in the House continues to move forward in its current form.
The government has yet to announce how it will reconcile the recommendations from the Police Reform Commission with the pending legislative amendments currently before the House of Representatives.