Decentralisation of power within the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) might help solidify public support for the police, a study by Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) has found.

Ideas chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan said that their study showcases the breadth and range of powers available to the top cop in the country, that is inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar.

The IGP's powers include his role in overseeing 153,122 police officers and his jurisdiction over all police-related matters from traffic enforcement to anti-terrorism.

"It is natural for the public to be concerned over these extensive powers especially when you consider the IGP's powers to do so many things.

"We need to remove the unnecessary doubts and this can be achieved if the IGP delegates some of those powers and responsibilities," Wan Saiful said in a press statement today.

Some of the criticisms levelled at the PDRM by various sections of society, he said, can be unfair.

Decentralisation of powers within the police force can help reduce these criticisms, he said.

He explained that decentralisation of power, where those who are lower in the power structure are empowered, is a commonplace practice in most developed countries.

Most institutions that decentralise its power enjoy a higher level of public confidence, because people are not as worried about one person having too much power, he said.

In the study, he said Ideas has also reiterated the need for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), as proposed by former Chief Justice Dzaiddin Abdullah in 2005.

"The IPCMC is particularly important because Malaysian society today demands more public scrutiny and greater accountability including from the police," Wan Saiful said.

The study, titled "Strengthening the Royal Malaysia Police by enhancing accountability", has been submitted to the IGP, he said, before its release to the public.

Ideas will also send it to the Home Ministry soon, he said.