Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JAKARTA312
2009-02-23 10:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:  

Indonesian National Police Adopt Use of Force Policy

Tags:  KIPR ETRD ECON SNAR KJUS ID PNUM 
pdf how-to read a cable
P 231051Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1567
INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS COLL
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 
AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
USPACOM HONOLULU HI
FBI WASHINGTON DC
SECDEF WASHDC
NSC WASHDC
DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
UNCLAS JAKARTA 000312 


DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EB/TPP, EB/TPP/BTA, DRL, DRL/AWH
S/CT, INL FOR BARCLAY, DOJ FOR DAAG SWARTZ,
ICITAP FOR TREVILLIAN/BARR
DRL FOR JKIM
FBI FOR SETUI/SSA ROTH
NCTC WASHDC
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD ECON SNAR KJUS ID PNUM
SUBJECT: Indonesian National Police Adopt Use of Force Policy

Summary

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000312


DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EB/TPP, EB/TPP/BTA, DRL, DRL/AWH
S/CT, INL FOR BARCLAY, DOJ FOR DAAG SWARTZ,
ICITAP FOR TREVILLIAN/BARR
DRL FOR JKIM
FBI FOR SETUI/SSA ROTH
NCTC WASHDC
NSC FOR EPHU

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD ECON SNAR KJUS ID PNUM
SUBJECT: Indonesian National Police Adopt Use of Force Policy

Summary


1. (U) After over a year of collaboration with the
INL-funded DOJ ICITAP Program, the Indonesian
National Police (INP) has adopted a Use of Force
Policy commensurate with international human rights
and policing standards. Police Chief Danuri signed
into decree the Use of Force Police Action Policy on
January 15, which was approved by the Ministry of
Law and Human Rights On January 30. The policy
includes a Use of Force Resistance Control Form that
must be completed whenever force is used or whenever
a citizen or police officer is injured as a result
of the use of force. This is a major step forward in
the implementation of modern law enforcement policy
in addressing the professional conduct and
accountability of the INP.

End Summary


Why a Use of Force Policy is Important


1. (U) Modern democratic law enforcement
organizations have Use of Force policies that
provide guidelines on proportionate levels of
force to be used by a police officer based on
the specific threat level presented. Without a
UOF policy that meets or exceeds international
standards it is difficult to hold an officer or
an organization accountable for use of force
actions taken by a police officer in the course
of his/her duties. The development of specific
written policies such as the UOF ensures deeper
and more institutional commitment to human
rights than is provided by the outside delivery
of human rights training alone.


2. (U) The INP and ICITAP formed a UOF Working
Group in late 2007 to discuss the feasibility
and structure of a UOF policy that would meet
international standards and be culturally
appropriate for the INP organization. The
sessions were numerous and often contentious as
the draft went through multiple levels of review.
The draft policy and revisions were discussed
throughout INP commands to include the
provincial police chiefs, Legal Division,
Inspector General, and PROPAM (Internal
Affairs). Accompanying the policy is a Use of
Force Resistance Control Reporting Form, a
required document to be completed anytime an INP

unit or officer uses a level of force defined by
policy resulting in injury or death to either a
citizen or an officer.


3. (U) No other ASEAN law enforcement organization
has developed or implemented a Use of Force
Policy and Resistance Control Reporting Form
this comprehensive. Indonesia is again showing
regional leadership on an important human rights
policy.

III. Policy Highlights


1. (U)The INP UOF Policy has seventeen (17)
articles. The articles define the purpose of
the policy, use of force, levels, guidelines as
to when the organization and an officer can use
force on a citizen to mitigate an imminent
threat, and the legal foundation for application
of proportional response as dictated by the
situation presented the INP or individual
officer.


2. (U)The policy defines six (6) levels of police
action that can be applied by the INP. Physical
presence and deterrence, verbal commands, soft
and hard 'empty' hand techniques, chemical
weapons such as pepper spray or tear gas, impact
weapons, and firearms or other implements that
can cause serious physical injury or death.
ICITAP worked closely with the INP to severely
restrict the use of firearms including warning
shots and firing at or from a moving vehicle.


3. (U) The policy requires mandatory training,
legal protection of officers under investigation
for use of force, and the right for an officer
to refuse to obey an order of a senior officer
if the senior officer's order does not comply
with the policy or prevailing laws. Prior to
this policy, a subordinate did not have the
express authority to question or disobey an
order by a senior officer under any
circumstances and were subject to discipline.


4. (U)Unique to this policy is Monitoring and
Control Chapter 5 that requires the INP to
complete the Use of Force Resistance Control
Form anytime an officer uses hard empty hand
techniques, chemical or impact weapons, or a
firearm. Few countries outside the west require
the documentation specified in the INP UOF
Policy. The INP will use the data for conducting
internal investigations, policy revision and
assessment, and determination of future training
needs.


5. (U) The INP and ICITAP will begin agency-wide
training on the UOF Policy within the next
quarter using previously developed instructor
manuals and scenario-based materials.
Instructors will be identified for training
throughout Indonesia and full socialization may
take up to six (6) months.

IV. Conclusion


1. (U)The development and adoption of a modern UOF
policy that meets international human rights and
policing standards has elevated the status of
the INP accountability and professionalism. The
development of this policy was a difficult self-
examination for the INP, but all understood this
policy was requisite to prove it's commitment to
the public as well as it's commitment to the
professionalism of the INP.


2. For developed and modern law enforcement
organizations the implementation of an
actionable Use of Force Policy is crucial to
protect the public and the organization from
excessive use of force by the police. The INP
has again made a mature organizational decision
and commitment to the people of Indonesia by
adopting this policy. By adopting this policy
the INP has also established a performance and
accountability standard as an organization on
which they can be judged.

HUME