Structural and Cultural Constraints in the Effectiveness of Internal Police Oversight (A Study at the North Sumatra Regional Police)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the structural and cultural constraints affecting the effectiveness of internal oversight in preventing abuse of authority within the North Sumatra Regional Police. Although, normatively, the internal oversight system has been regulated through the role of the Inspectorate as part of the Government Internal Supervisory Apparatus (APIP), empirical realities indicate that disciplinary violations, breaches of the code of ethics, and criminal offenses committed by members of the Indonesian National Police continue to occur and have shown an increasing trend during the 2021–2025 period. This study employs a normative–empirical legal method with a qualitative approach, utilizing literature review, document analysis, and in-depth interviews with key informants. The findings reveal that structural constraints include limited independence of the Inspectorate due to the hierarchical organizational structure, insufficient quantity and competence of supervisory personnel, and weak follow-up mechanisms for oversight results. Meanwhile, cultural constraints encompass a strong esprit de corps, resistance to oversight, and a tendency to preserve institutional image, all of which hinder transparency. These two factors interact and contribute to internal oversight that tends to be formalistic and reactive, thereby limiting its effectiveness as an early warning system. This study emphasizes that strengthening internal oversight cannot rely solely on structural reform but must also involve a transformation of organizational culture oriented toward integrity and accountability. The main contribution of this research lies in its integrative approach, linking structural and cultural factors as key determinants of internal oversight effectiveness within policing institutions.