The Role of the Police Commission of the House of Representatives in Crime Prevention and Suppression

Abstract

Background and Aims: The House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs plays a significant role in supporting the prevention and resolution of crime. However, it still faces several challenges and limitations that require improvement. Therefore, this research aims to: (1) examine the problems, obstacles, and limitations encountered by the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs in carrying out its role in crime prevention and crime resolution; and (2) investigate effective operational approaches for the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs to enhance its role in preventing and addressing crime.

Methodology: This study employed a qualitative research design using in-depth interviews with 30 key informants who were directly involved in the operations of the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview guide. The collected data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results: The findings revealed that the problems, obstacles, and limitations in the operations of the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs were primarily systemic and structural in nature. These included: (1) limited cooperation from relevant agencies, particularly the provision of incomplete information or the assignment of representatives without decision-making authority; (2) limitations in statutory powers and legal enforcement mechanisms, resulting in the Committee's recommendations not being implemented concretely in certain cases; (3) structural constraints arising from the legislative role, which prevent the Committee from directly enforcing its resolutions or directives on implementing agencies; and (4) limitations in resources, personnel, and specialized expertise, which adversely affected the Committee's capacity to monitor and address complex crime-related issues effectively.

Conclusion: The findings further indicate that the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs should adopt a proactive and systematic approach to its operations by making full use of available legal mechanisms, enhancing specialized expertise through subcommittees and subject-matter experts, conducting field visits and engaging in preventive communication with the public, promoting transparency through reporting mechanisms and public participation channels, and establishing tangible performance indicators to evaluate operational outcomes. These measures would strengthen the Committee's capacity to prevent and address crime effectively and sustainably.