Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Indonesia's Community Legal Aid Institute (LBHM) urges National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto to demonstrate his commitment to eliminating the "no viral, no justice" phenomenon by overhauling the public reporting system.
LBHM believes this promised reform will not materialize if the police force relies solely on moral appeals to its personnel without establishing transparent operational mechanisms.
"The National Police must also establish a mechanism ensuring that every report is received, recorded, verified, acted upon, and monitored for progress in a manner transparent to the public," said LBHM Communications and Campaign Staff member Aan Afriangga in a written statement on Friday, October 9, 2026.
Aan stated that the "no viral, no justice" phenomenon – a frequent public grievance – reflects underlying issues regarding the certainty of report processing and the service culture within the National Police. Consequently, the force is called upon to build an open and measurable system, including providing clear justifications whenever a case proceeds or is discontinued.
Prabowo inaugurated Suyudi as the new National Police Chief on October 1, 2026. With this appointment, Suyudi succeeds Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who had served in the role for five years.
During his fit-and-proper test before Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) on October 1, Suyudi pledged to eliminate the "no viral, no justice" perception under his leadership. He emphasized that citizens filing police reports are entitled to proper handling and updates on their cases' progress.
"Complainants have the right to know about developments that can be disclosed, without needing to seek informal access to investigators," Suyudi said at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
The focus on this pledge regarding public report handling is the key point among five critical observations issued by LBHM in response to Suyudi's inauguration and the subsequent policy to rotate 19 Regional Police Chiefs (Kapolda). LBHM emphasizes that the success of the new National Police Chief's first 100 days in office should not be measured by program-related image-building, but rather by changes directly felt by the public.
In addition to overhauling reporting systems, LBHM underscores the importance of oversight regarding the police force's vast powers, such as those related to arrest and detention. LBHM cautions that any expansion of police authority must be balanced with effective oversight mechanisms – not only internal ones but also those that allow for external supervision and public participation – to prevent the abuse of power.
LBHM also advocates for reforming the benchmarks used to measure law enforcement success. They urge the police force to move away from using the number of cases, suspects, or seized evidence as primary indicators of success. "Instead, success should be measured by the quality of handling – ensuring actions are lawful, evidence-based, provide legal certainty, and uphold justice," stated Aan.
Furthermore, LBHM maintains that respect for vulnerable groups – including persons with disabilities, drug users, women, children, and minorities – must serve as a tangible measure of the success of police reform. LBHM urges that this commitment be translated into inclusive operational procedures that are free from stigma and discrimination, while also ensuring adequate access to legal aid.
LBHM asserts that the change in leadership and the rotation of 19 Regional Police Chiefs (Kapolda) should serve as a pivotal moment to address structural issues down to the grassroots level. They call for the police reform agenda to be genuinely implemented at the regional (Polda), district (Polres), and sub-district (Polsek) levels, ensuring that improvements in public service and law enforcement are realized consistently across Indonesia.