[nb 1] The Act of 2009 provides the Royal Bhutan Police a substantive and procedural framework for jurisdictions, powers arrest (with and without warrant), investigation, prosecution, search and seizure, summoning witnesses, and regulating public assembly and public nuisance.

"[nb 4] Non-lethal measures required before lethal force may be used include water cannons, tear smoke, riot batons, and rubber pellets; shooting live ammunition into crowds is authorized only after firing warning shots into the air.

[nb 12] At both levels, authorities keep extensive registers and diaries of convictions, cases, seizures, arrests, absconders, custody, and town and village information.

[nb 14] The Investigation Bureau operates directly under the Chief of Police to collect intelligence and information relating to criminal and subversive activities against the Tsa-Wa-Sum and is headed by the Deputy Chief (IB)[nb 15] The National Central Bureau located at the Police Headquarters liaises with other Interpol member countries and Sub-Regional Bureaus.

[nb 20] All policies, Service Rules, and regulations formulated and decided by the Board are submitted to the Chief of Police for endorsement and for submission to the Home and Cultural Affairs Minister for approval.

Advanced training for selected police officers in fields such as criminology, traffic control, and canine corps has taken place in India and other countries.

In 1988, following specialized training in India, a female second lieutenant established a fingerprint bureau in Thimphu.

In 1975, in response to the increased number of traffic accidents resulting from the development of roads and the increase number of motor vehicles, the police established an experimental mobile traffic court staff with Royal Bhutan Police personnel and a judicial official to make on-the-spot legal decisions.

Interpol maintains a National Central Bureau at Royal Bhutan Police headquarters in Thimphu.

A nine-month basic training course for constables included physical exercise and drills, weapons training, martial arts (taekwondo), law, public relations, riot control, investigation techniques, check post duties, traffic control, VIP escort and driglam namzha.

An additional six-week course provided scientific investigation techniques, photography, administration, accounting, canine handling and other related subjects.

Officers were sent to Australia to specialise in DNA analysis and other advanced techniques of forensic science.

[8] In 1991, the Royal Bhutan Police was organizationally subordinate to the Royal Bhutan Army and under the command of Major General Lam Dorji, who was also chief of operations of the army, holding the title inspector general or commandant.

There are a number of police stations, outposts, and checkpoints in a district and the highest-ranked officer is usually designated the Officer-in-Charge of that particular area.