Indonesian National Police

The veldpolitie in Malang, East Java (c. 1930)

While Indonesia was under Dutch colonial rule, police duties were performed either by military establishments or the colonial police known as the veldpolitie, or field police.[5] Japanese occupation during WW II brought changes when the Japanese formed various armed organisations to support their war effort. This led to militarily trained youths being armed with confiscated Dutch arms to perform police duties.

After the Japanese occupation, the national police became an armed organisation. The Indonesian police was established on 19 August 1945 (under the title of the National Police Agency (Badan Kepolisian Negara)) and its units fought in the Indonesian National Revolution against the invading Dutch forces. The police also participated in suppressing the 1948 communist revolt in Madiun. In 1962, the police was brought under the control of the Commander of the National Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, becoming the Indonesian Police Forces (Angkatan Kepolisian). Following the proclamation of independence, the police played a vital role when they actively supported the people's movement to dismantle the Japanese army, and to strengthen the defence of the newly created Republic of Indonesia. The police were not combatants who were required to surrender their weapons to the Allied Forces. During the revolution of independence, the police gradually formed into what is now known as Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia (Polri) or the Indonesian National Police. In April 1999, the police force officially regained its independence and now is separate from the armed forces proper.

1 July, which is marked as National Police Day (Hari Bhayangkara), honours the anniversary of the 1946 Cabinet resolution placing the INP as a national agency subordinated directly to the government of the Republic and thus responsible to the President (formerly the Prime Minister).

Indonesian police personnel in Jakarta

Indonesian armed Police officers and personnel line-up in Jakarta

The key tasks of the Indonesian National Police are to:

• maintain security and public order;
• enforce the law, and
• provide protection, and service to the community.

In carrying out these basic tasks, Police are to:

• perform control, guard, escort and patrol of the community and government activities as needed;
• supplying all activities to ensure the safety and smoothness of traffic on the road;
• to develop community awareness;
• as well as in the development of national law;
• implement order and ensure public safety;
• implement co-ordination, supervision, and technical guidance to the investigators, civil servants/authorities, and the forms of private security;
• implement the investigation against all criminal acts in accordance with the criminal procedure law and other legislation;
• implement identification such as police medical operations, psychology, and police forensic laboratory for the interests of the police task;
• Protect soul safety, property, society, and the environment from disturbances and/or disaster, including providing aid and relief to uphold human rights;
• Serving interests of citizens for a while before it is handled by the agency and/or authorities;
• Give services to the public in accordance with the interests of the police task environment;
• to implement other duties in accordance with the legislation, which in practice regulated by Government Regulation;
• Receive reports and/or complaints;
• crowd and public control;
• help resolve community disputes that may interfere with the public order;
• supervising the flow that can lead to the dismemberment or threaten the unity of the nation;
• publicising police regulations within the scope of police administrative authority;
• implementing special examination as part of the police identification;
• respond first and rapid action to a scene;
• Take the identity, fingerprints and photograph of a person for identification purposes;
• looking for information and evidence;
• organising National Crime Information Centre;
• issuing licence and / or certificate that is required to service the community;
• Give security assistance in the trial and execution of court decisions, the activities of other agencies, as well as community activities; and
• to Receive, secure, and keep founded lost items for a while until further identification

The organisation of the Indonesian National Police is hierarchical, culminating on the General Headquarters in Kebayoran Baru. Below the General Headquarters:

• Regional Police (Indonesian: Kepolisian Daerah, POLDA), formerly Police Commissariats (Kepolisian Komisariat), Regional Police Commands (Komando Daerah Kepolisan, KOMDAK) and Territorial Police (Polisi Wilayah): covers an entire province.
• Departamental Police (Indonesian: Kepolisian Resor, POLRES), formerly Police Area Directorates (Korem Polisi): covers second-level territories (regencies and cities)
• Sectoral Police (Indonesian: Kepolisian Sektor, POLSEK): covers regions below the cities and regencies.
• Neighborhood/Village Police NCOs (Indonesian: Bhayangkara Pembina Keamanan dan Ketertiban Masyarakat, BHABINKAMTIBMAS): covers the villages of Indonesia, manned by and led by police NCOs of Brigadier rank and above (if in areas that have Marine Police, police NCOs from Adjutant Brigadier 2nd Class rank and above).

Regional Police

Polda Metro Jaya Regional Police Logo

Polda Metro Jaya Headquarters

Polda Metro Jaya is the police headquarters of the Greater Jakarta Region covering the metropolitan area

• The Regional Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polda) is the main implementing unit of territoriality under the Chief of Police. Polda is responsible for carrying out national police duties at province level. A "Polda" is headed by a Regional Chief of Police (Kapolda), which is responsible to the Chief of national Police (Kapolri) and holds the rank of either Inspector General or Brigadier General. Kapolda is assisted by Deputy Chief of Police (Wakapolda).
• The Regional Police (Polda) is responsible for the Departmental Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polres) which covers a city or district/municipal level in that province. For big cities, Departamental Police (Polres) forces are called Metropolitan Police (Polrestabes), and for the urban type it is named only City Police (Polresta). The Polres has a complete police task force, like a Polda, and is led by a Police Chief Commissioner (Kombes) (for city police) or Police Superintendent (AKBP) for regency police.
• Sectoral Police (Polsek) are led by a Police Superintendent (AKBP) or Police Commissioner (Kompol) (for urban divisions), while in other Poldas, Polseks are led by officers of Police chief inspector (AKP) rank for Rural areas. In some areas which are remote like Papua, a Polsek may be led by a Police Inspector 2nd Class (Ipda).

Each Regional Police headquarters (Polda) which covers a province oversees the following directorates:

• Criminal Investigation Directorate
  • Sub-directorate of Criminal Affairs
  • Sub-Directorate for Crimes of Violence (Jatanras)
  • Sub-directorate for Teens, Children and Women affairs
  • Inafis Unit (Indonesia Automatic Finger Print Identification System) / Identification of TKP (Crime Scene)
• Directorate of Special Crimes Investigation
  • Sub-Directorate of Corruption
  • Sub-directorate of Land and building Property (Hardabangtah)
  • Sub-directorate of Cyber Crimes
• Directorate of Drug Investigation
  • Narcotics Subdivision
  • Psychotropic subdivision
• Directorate of Intelligence and Security
• Directorate of Traffic Security
  • Sub Directorate of Education and Conjecture (Dikyasa)
  • Sub Directorate of Registration and Identification (Regident)
  • Sub Directorate of Traffic Law Enforcement (Gakkum)
  • Sub Directorate of Road Security and Safety (Kamsel)
  • Sub Directorate of Road Escort and Patrol (Patwal)
  • Sub Directorate of Highway patrol (PJR)
• Animal Unit (Unit Satwa) - (mounted police and K9 dogs)
• Directorate of Community Guidance and Development (Bimmas, formerly Bina Mitra)
• Patrol Units (Sabhara) Directorate - ("Alert Unit")
• Directorate of VIP and Important Facility Protection (Pamobvit)
• Directorate of Water police (Polair)
• Directorate of Prisoners and Evidence Gathering (Tahti)
• Operations Bureau
• Human Resources Bureau
• Bureau of Infrastructure Facilities (Sarpras, formerly Logistic)
• Finance Office
• Bureau of internal Profession and Security (Propam) - (Internal affairs unit)
• Law Bureau
• Public Relations and Press Service
• Regional Police Medical Bureau

In the eyes of the people, the National Police force is "corrupt, brutal, and inept".[3] Even becoming a police officer can be expensive, with applicants having to pay up to Rp90 million, according to Indonesia Police Watch head, Neta Saputra Pane.[10]

In April 2009, angry that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had tapped his phone while investigating a corruption case, Indonesian Police chief detective Susno Duadji compared the KPK to a gecko (Indonesian: cicak) fighting a crocodile (Indonesian: buaya) meaning the police. Susno's comment, as it turned out, quickly backfired because the image of a cicak standing up to a buaya (similar to David and Goliath imagery) immediately had wide appeal in Indonesia. A noisy popular movement in support of the cicak quickly emerged. Students staged pro-cicak demonstrations, many newspapers ran cartoons with cicaks lining up against an ugly buaya, and numerous TV talk shows took up the cicak versus buaya topic with enthusiasm. As a result, references to cicaks fighting a buaya have become a well-known part of the political imagery of Indonesia.[11]

In June 2010, the Indonesian news magazine Tempo published a report on "fat bank accounts" held by senior police officers containing billions of rupiah. When the magazine went on sale in the evening groups of men said by witnesses to be police officers, went to newsstands with piles of cash to try to buy all the copies before they could be sold.[12][13]

When KPK investigators tried to search Polri headquarters in 2010 as part of an investigation into Djoko Susilo, then the head of Korlantas (police corps of traffic), they were detained, and only released following the intervention of the president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Following a trial, Djoko was jailed for 18 years. Two years later, the KPK began investigating another senior police officer, Budi Gunawan, who was subsequently nominated for the post of National Police Chief. The KPK then named Budi a suspect and his nomination was withdrawn. However, he was later sworn in as deputy police chief. The police subsequently took revenge by charging three KPK commissioners with criminal offenses.[14][15]

Amnesty International has accused Polri of "widespread" torture and other abuses of arrested individuals.[16] According to the organization, "Police in Indonesia shoot, beat and even kill people without fear of prosecution, leaving their victims with little hope of justice".[17]

In 2014 the Human Rights Watch reported that a physical virginity test is routinely performed on female applicants to the police force.[18] Human Rights Watch decried the practice as unscientific and degrading.[18]

An official admission of violence by police officers came in 2016 when Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti admitted that officers of the Detachment 88 anti-terror unit were responsible for the death in custody of terrorist suspect Siyono, who died of heart failure after being kicked hard enough in the chest to fracture his ribs. The Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights stated in March 2016 that at least 121 terror suspects had died in custody since 2007[19]

Amnesty International called in June 2019 for an investigation of "credible evidence" of a range of grave violations by police, who it alleged were responsible for 10 unlawful killings in the aftermath of the re-election of president Joko Widodo.[20]

In July 2020, the Indonesian Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) issued a report detailing police brutality over the preceding year that resulted in 304 deaths and 1,627 injuries in 921 violent incidents. The report also mentioned arbitrary arrests of people demonstrating legally, and acts of discrimination towards ethnic Papuans.[21]

In the early years, the Indonesian Police used European police style ranks like "inspector" and "commissioner". When the police were amalgamated with the military structure during the 1960s, the ranks changed to a military style such as "Captain", "Major" and "Colonel". In the year 2000, when the Indonesian Police conducted the transition to a fully independent force out of the armed forces, they used British style police ranks like "Inspector" and "Superintendent". In 2001, the Indonesian Police have returned to Dutch style ranks like "Brigadier" and "Inspecteur" just like in the early years with some Indonesianized elements within the ranking system. The ranks are comparable with the armed forces' rank system.[22]

Worn on:	General officers				Field officers			Subaltern officers
Ceremonial Dress Uniform (PDU)
Service Uniform (PDH)
Field Uniform (PDL) on collar
Rank in Indonesian:	Jenderal Polisi	Komisaris Jenderal Polisi (Komjen)	Inspektur Jenderal Polisi (Irjen)	Brigadir Jenderal Polisi (Brigjen)	Komisaris Besar Polisi (Kombes)	Ajun Komisaris Besar Polisi (AKBP)	Komisaris Polisi (Kompol)	Ajun Komisaris Polisi (AKP)	Inspektur Polisi Satu (Iptu)	Inspektur Polisi Dua (Ipda)
Rank in English:	Police General	Police Commissioner General	Police Inspector General	Police Brigadier General	Police Grand Commissioner	Police Grand Commissioner Attendant	Police Commissioner	Police Commissioner Attendant	Police Inspector 1st Class	Police Inspector 2nd Class

Worn on:	Sub-inspectors of Police (WO)		Constables (NCO)
Ceremonial Dress Uniform (PDU)
Service Uniform (PDH)
Field Uniform (PDL) on collar
Rank in Indonesian:	Ajun Inspektur Polisi Satu (Aiptu)	Ajun Inspektur Polisi Dua (Aipda)	Brigadir Polisi Kepala (Bripka)	Brigadir Polisi (Brigpol)	Brigadir Polisi Satu (Briptu)	Brigadir Polisi Dua (Bripda)
Rank in English:	Police Sub-Inspector 1st Class	Police Sub-Inspector 2nd Class	Police Chief Brigadier	Police Brigadier	Police Brigadier 1st Class	Police Brigadier 2nd Class

The following ranks are only used by personnel serving in the Mobile Brigade Corps and Water police units:

Worn on:	Enlisted
Ceremonial Dress Uniform (PDU)
Service Uniform (PDH)
Field Uniform (PDL) on collar
Rank in Indonesian:	Ajun Brigadir Polisi (Abrigpol)	Ajun Brigadir Polisi Satu (Abriptu)	Ajun Brigadir Polisi Dua (Abripda)	Bhayangkara Kepala (Bharaka)	Bhayangkara Satu (Bharatu)	Bhayangkara Dua (Bharada)
Rank in English:	Police Brigadier Attendant	Police Brigadier Attendant 1st class	Police Brigadier Attendant 2nd class	Master Patrolman	Patrolman 1st class	Patrolman 2nd class

Below is the rank system used prior, with its current equivalent. The system used before the transitional period followed the rank system in the Indonesian Army.

An Indonesian Armed BRIMOB special Police personnel with a Pindad SS1 assault rifle guarding outside the Jakarta Cathedral

The standard issue sidearm to all Indonesian National Police officers is the Taurus Model 82 revolver in. 38 Special. While police personnel attached to special units such as Detachment 88, Gegana and BRIMOB are issued with the Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol.

Heavy arms are always available to Indonesian police personnel, such as the Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun, Remington 870 shotgun, Steyr AUG assault rifle, M4 carbine, M1 Carbine. and other weapons. The standard rifle for the Indonesian National Police are the Pindad SS1 and the M16 rifle. Units are also issued the "Sabhara"/Police V1-V2 Pindad SS1 special law enforcement assault rifle.

The police vehicles that are usually operated by the Indonesian Police ("Polri") for patrol and law enforcement activities are mainly Ford Focus sedans, Mitsubishi Lancers, Hyundai Elantras (for some police regions), Mitsubishi Stradas, Isuzu D-Maxs, and Ford Rangers. Such vehicles are usually operated by the "Sabhara" police unit and other units which the vehicles are mainly colored dark-grey. In some areas, usually in rural places, the vehicles are not up-to date compared to the ones in the major urban areas in the country, so some police vehicles still use older versions such as the Toyota Kijang and Mitsubishi Freecas.
Special Investigation units usually operate in black Toyota Avanzas and some are unmarked vehicles. Police laboratory and forensics ("Puslabfor") units are issued dark-grey police Suzuki APV vehicles.

The Traffic Police Corps ("Korlantas") usually uses vehicles such as the Mazda 6, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Toyota Vios, Ford Focus sedans, Hyundai Elantra and Ford Rangers coloured white and blue. Some vehicles for traffic patrol are also used such as the Toyota Rush and Daihatsu Terios. Sedan types are usually used for highway and road patrolling and escort. Double-Cab types are usually used for Traffic incidents and traffic management law enforcement activities.

Police vehicles coloured orange usually Ford Focus and Mitsubishi Lancer sedans and white-orange Chevrolet Captivas are operated by the Vital Object Protection unit ("Pam Obvit") and usually parked outside and operated for international embassies, airports, and other special specified locations. It is also used by the Tourist police for patrol.

For the special police, counter-terrorism and anti-riot units such as the Mobile Brigade or "Brimob", Detachment 88 and "Gegana" units usually use special costumed vehicles for special operations such as the Pindad Komodo, Barracuda APC, and modified armored Mitsubishi Stradas, 2002 Nissan Terrano Spirits' and other special double-cabin and SUV vehicle types. Vehicles are coloured dark-grey with the bumper coloured orange identifying vehicles of the special police units. Some special operational "Gegana" and "Densus 88" vehicles are coloured black also with orange bumpers.

Other customised vehicles used for mobilisation of police personnel are usually modified Suzuki Mega Carrys, Isuzu Elfs and Toyota Dynas with horizontal side sitting facilities inside of the trunk covered by dark colored canvas for canopy. Costumed patrol pick-ups with mounted sitting facilities on the trunk covered with canopy are also operated by the police to carry police personnel during patrol, the pick-ups are usually Isuzu Panther pick-ups and usually operate in rural areas.

For high-ranking officers (usually generals), issued cars are usually grey (some black) full to compact sedans and Mid to Full-sized SUVs. Such cars are mainly chauffeured Toyota Camrys, Hyundai Sonatas, Toyota Land Cruisers, and Toyota Prados. Some use black Toyota Innovas.

• 
  A Mitsubishi Lancer patrol car used by Sabhara patrol unit officers
• 
  A Mazda6 patrol car used by the Traffic unit
• 
  A Customized Ford Ranger used by the Mobile Brigade Corps
• 
  A Pindad Komodo Indonesian Mobile Brigade special police tactical vehicle
• 
  Police Mobile Brigade riot vehicle
• 
  Yamaha Indonesian Traffic police motorcycle
• 
  Barracuda APC Mobile Brigade riot control vehicle
• 
  Daihatsu Gran Max Indonesian Tourist Police Service Van
• 
  An Indonesian Police patrol vehicle circa 1976
• 
  An Indonesian K9 Police Unit Vehicle
• 
  Police Off-Road Motorcycle (Dirt Bike) units

Indonesian 1980s Police uniform sample

Indonesian Police uniform today

The National Police Force of Indonesia had changes for uniform colours about 3 times, the periods are:

• Since first formed until mid 70s, the uniform colour was khaki like the current Indian Police uniform.
• Since the late 70s until mid 90s, the uniform colour was light brown and brown.
• Since mid 90s until now the colour are brownish grey and dark brown.

Based on the regulation of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police , there are four types of uniform worn by police personnel which are:

• ceremonial uniform (PDU: PDU-I, PDU-II, PDU-III, PDU-IV)
• parade uniform (PDP: PDU Danup, PDU Danpas)
• service uniform (PDH: with uniform, and without uniform)
• field uniform (PDL: PDL-I, PDL-II which are PDL-II Two Tone, PDL-II Brimob Camo, PDL-II Black, PDL-II Reconnaisance, PDL-II Cavalry, PDL-II Highway Patrol, PDL-II Marine Police)

Ceremonial and service uniform are equipped with gorget paches (officially called "Monogram"). Higher officers (Brigadier General above) wear red while the rest wear dark brown.

Field and service uniform are equipped with office badge on left sleeve, and corps badge on the right sleve. Officer with command held wears his/her office badge (Lencana Tanda Jabatan) on the right pocket and usually carries baton (called tongkat komando) while others don't.

Headgears and beret colors:

• Red - Criminal Investigation Units ("Reserse", came from dutch word recherche) - don't wear berets during investigative work. They sometimes wear white dress shirt with red tie.
• Dark Blue beret - Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob)
• Blackish Dark Brown beret - "Sabhara"
• Light Blue beret - Internal Affairs Division (Police Provosts)
• Peaked cap with White piping - Traffic Policemen

The National Police Pledge is a pledge of loyalty and fidelity of all sworn personnel and constables to the government and people of Indonesia, the principles of nationhood and the Constitution.[23][24]

• 
  Sabhara
• 
  Sabhara Patrolmen
• 
  Internal Affairs (Provosts)
• 
  Traffic Policemen
• 
  Criminal Detective Unit personnel
• 
  Police Academy Cadets
• 
  Mounted Police
• 
  K9 Policemen circa 1970s
• 
  Police Aviators
• 
  Water Police
• 
  Aviation officers
• 
  Riot police
• 
  Motorcycle Cop
• 
  Bomb unit

• Menumpas Teroris, 1986 - starring Barry Prima and El Manik
• Arie Hanggara, 1985: A true story of the death of an 8 year old boy by his stepmother starring Deddy Mizwar
• The Raid (2011 film), starring Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim & Donny Alamsyah
• Java Heat, 2013 starring Kellan Lutz, Ario Bayu, T.Wifnu Wikana & Mickey Rourke

• 86 - 2014–present (based on show Cops), shown on NET TV every day at 11 pm Western Indonesian Time
• The Police, every day at 11 pm Western Indonesian Time on Trans 7

• Indonesian Military (TNI)
• Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim)
• Mobile Brigade Corps
• Detachment 88 (Densus 88) AT
• Gegana
• Municipal Police (Indonesia)
• Military Police Corps (Indonesia)
• Army Military Police Corps (Indonesia)

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/.

• Amnesty International. (2009) "Indonesia: Unfinished Business: Police Accountability in Indonesia" (24 June 2009)
• International Crisis Group. (2001) Indonesia : National Police reform. Jakarta / Brussels : International Crisis Group. ICG Asia report; no.13
• David Jansen. (2008) "Relations among security and law enforcement institutions in Indonesia", Contemporary Southeast Asia, Vol.30, No.3, 429-54
• "Networked Security in Indonesia: The Case of the Police in Yogyakarta." Doctoral Dissertation, Australian National University (April 2010).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indonesian National Police.

• Official website
• Community of Indonesian National Police
• Outside Indonesia view