POLICE PROFESSIONALISM IN COMBATING SEXUAL CRIMES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FIQH SIYASAH

Sexual crimes remain one of the most serious criminal offenses in Indonesia because they threaten human dignity, public morality, and social security. The increasing number of sexual crime cases requires law enforcement officers, particularly the Indonesian National Police, to perform their duties professionally, fairly, and accountably. This study aims to analyze the professionalism of the Bengkulu Regional Police in combating sexual crimes based on Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Indonesian National Police and to examine its implementation from the perspective of Fiqh Siyasah. This research employed an empirical legal approach using qualitative methods. Data were collected through interviews, observations, documentation, and literature studies involving investigators of the Women and Children Protection Unit, legal experts, and victims or their families. The findings indicate that police professionalism has generally been implemented in accordance with the authority stipulated in Law Number 2 of 2002 through law enforcement, victim protection, criminal investigation, and public services. Several obstacles remain, including limited human resources with specialized competence, inadequate supporting facilities, difficulties in gathering evidence, and persistent social stigma that discourages victims from reporting sexual crimes. From the perspective of Fiqh Siyasah, police professionalism reflects the implementation of governmental responsibility based on the principles of justice (al-'adalah), trustworthiness (al-amanah), and public benefit (al-maslahah). Professional law enforcement should therefore prioritize legal certainty while simultaneously protecting victims' dignity and promoting social welfare. Strengthening institutional capacity, improving investigators' competencies, and integrating ethical values derived from Fiqh Siyasah are essential to achieving more effective, humane, and justice-oriented law enforcement