About a Police Force

The Brunei Police Force

For 600 hundred years, the people of Brunei have been ruled by an unbroken dynasty, which began with the conversion of the leader of the time to Islam, and survived British colonialism and Japanese occupation. Over those 600 years, Brunei has seen the rise and fall of colonial powers, enjoyed centuries as a wealthy major trading post, lost territory to its neighbours, watched its fortunes dwindle with changes to international trade routes, and found riches again, in the oil from its land. The Royal Brunei Police Force finds its roots in the Police Enactment Act of 1920, a colonial law mired in the British occupation of the time. Today, the police force reflects its various contexts; its colonial history, the power of the Sultan, the Islamic nature of its country and its own attempts at modernisation. The Sultan designated the police force royal in 1962, following its role in the prevention of an armed uprising launched by the opposition political party.

Brunei Police Logo Source: Google /images

In 1959, a new Constitution was drafted for Brunei, declaring Brunei an independent state, although external affairs remained with the United Kingdom. The Constitution contemplated a delegation of executive power to an appointed state council, but in 1962 the Sultan declared a state of emergency under the Constitution. This allowed the Sultan to take supreme power for the following two years. Each Sultan has extended this declaration, effectively ensuring that executive power remained in his hands. The current Sultan renewed the state of emergency in March 2004, which will run through until March 2006.

Structure

The head of the Brunei Police is the Inspector General of Police. The Inspector General oversees the work of a Commissioner of Police and a Deputy Commissioner of Police. The Commissioners supervise the work of six departments; Administration and Finance, Operation, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Logistics, Traffic Investigation and Control and the CP Secretariat and Public Relations. Each of the departments has responsibilities, within its own portfolio, for one of the seven police districts in Brunei.

The Sultan is appointed as Superintendent General of the Police. Tight control over the operations of the police service remains with him. He is also the Head of the Islamic faith, Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Finance Minister. In May 2005, the Sultan conferred on his son, Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the rank Deputy Inspector General of Police. The Sultan's sister, Princess Hajah Masna, is the Commandant of the Women Police, and an Honorary Assistant Commissioner of Police.

According to figures tabulated in December 2004 and provided by the Brunei Police, the service is made up of 3093 police officers. 428 of these officers are women.

The police service is a member of the international criminal agencies INTERPOL and ASEANAPOL.

Recruitment

The recruitment policy stems from requirements set out in the Police Regulations 1958. The requirements are summarised below, for both men and women. The requirements are for a rank and file member, known as a Constable.

There are also height and weight requirements.

Mission and objectives

The mission of the police is to "maintain law and order in accordance with the powers conferred by any written law of the land in the most professional manner." Its targets and objectives are described as follows:

• to minimise the number of transgression against the law.
• to maximise the detection of criminal activities and the conviction of criminals.
• ready to respond against public and societal needs.
• immediate restoration of public order and safety following disruptive incidents.
• to enhance police professionalism through proper training of officers and personnel.
• to increase community involvement in fighting crime and transgression of national laws.
• to project a friendly, caring and approachable image of the institution.
• to maximise educational programmes for the general public relating to traffic rules and regulations.
• to maintain and carry all resolutions passed and adopted by the ASEANAPOL Conference and the INTERPOL General Assembly.
• to maintain good liaison with other law enforcement agencies and Government Departments.

The police department aims to achieve administrative modernisation and reform through a review of salary structures/allowances, review of terms and conditions of employment, revision of training modules, restructuring of badges of rank, creation of a Personnel Information System, implementation of a paperless bureaucracy, empowerment, career planning, operation of a dynamic recruitment policy and use of e-mail.

Brunei's Police Emblem

The centre of the emblem is the national crest of Brunei. This is made up of a flag and royal umbrella (symbolising the royal significance of Brunei) two wings (each consisting of four feathers symbolizing the protection of justice, tranquillity, prosperity and peace), a flagpole (supporting the wings and symbolising the firmness and sincerity of state integrity), two hands (to pledge to promote welfare, peace and prosperity, with three lines in reference to Islam) and a crescent (the symbol of Islam). The Arabic script translates as "Always render service by God's guidance." The crest is surrounded by 99 rice stalks, which indicate peace and security within the state.