‘Men of discipline?’ Police banned from wearing sunglasses following haircut order as force gets an image makeover

[webfact]

‘Men of discipline?’ Police banned from wearing sunglasses following haircut order as force gets an image makeover

By JESSADA CHANTHARAK 
THE NATION

 

 

POLICE OFFICERS have been banned from wearing sunglasses while performing their duties because such accessories are deemed inappropriate, according to Pol Maj-General Panurat Lakboon, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB).

 

The ban, ordered by deputy police chief Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakhan, is in addition to national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda’s previous statement on November 15 that officers on duty must dress properly and have short haircuts in line with Prime Minister’s Office regulations regarding civil servant uniforms and hairstyles.

 

 

Panurat’s memo about the sunglasses ban also noted that police supervisors at all levels must also adhere to |the rule as a good example to subordinates. 

 

Despite his personnel opinion that officers performing duties in strong sunlight might need to wear sunglasses to maximise their efficiency, Panurat said officers must follow the policy strictly.

 

 

Chakthip’s policy on haircuts, which was reiterated on December 14 and January 30, led to random inspections last month, which found 40 MPB officers in Satun, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phang Nga breaking the rule and being ordered to make appropriate changes. 

 

The discovery also prompted MPB commissioner Lt-General Charnthep Sesawet to threaten subordinates with disciplinary punishment if they failed to keep their hair short and supervisors with official reprimands if they failed to keep subordinates “under control”. 

 

In the December 14 order, in addition to requiring officers to have short haircuts to reflect an image of “men of discipline”, Chakthip also required uniformed officers on duty to avoid expressing “inappropriate attitudes in public” such as standing with arms crossed, placing hands in pockets, leaning against a wall, placing hands on hips, sitting cross-legged and using rude or offensive words when addressing members of the public.

 

File photo

 

The strict dress code and disciplined posture would be part of police officers’ annual evaluations, while other measures would be implemented to promote disciplined behaviour, according to the policy.

 

A Bangkok office worker in her 30s, who asked not to be named, said police should not impose a ban on sunglasses as such a “petty” regulation could affect traffic police duties. 

 

 

“Police directing traffic stand in the sun for hours and are constantly hit by the glare from passing vehicles. They should be allowed to wear sunglasses,” she said.

 

However, she agreed with the “proper” police uniform and short haircut policies because those measures “reflected good police discipline”.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30340159

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-05

[Samui Bodoh]

Yes... er... ahem...oh...er...ahh...

 

Sunglasses...

 

That is the reform needed for the BIB!

 

[Somtamnication]

In order to corrupt goodly, they must look goodly. 

[Get Real]

Seems like they really got a hold of the problem. Cut the hair and put the sunglasses in the pocket until sunday dinner, and everything is hunky dory.

Beware about shops selling sunglasses. They lead to severe urge to corrupt yourself.

Also be very careful not to let your hair grow out more then 1-2 cm. That can lead to aqn irresitable way to look trough the fingers in cetain situations.

[George Bowman]

Will removing sunglasses really change behavior?

 

Edited March 4, 2018 by missoura

[colinneil]

If police are not to put hands in pockets, what they gonna do will all the tea money?

[Darcula]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

placing hands in pockets

Hands in others pockets allowed, no problem.

[SABloke]

“Police directing traffic..."

 

Does she mean when they blow a whistle and wave me through in the only direction that it's possible to move in, (i.e. forward in the direction that I was already travelling) or when they heff with the traffic lights, making a bad situation worse?

Edited March 5, 2018 by SABloke

[Thian]

I think they should show their full face and also a nametag or number.

 

They can wear a big hat against the sun like american cowboys do.

[thailand49]

Appearance is important but appearance shouldn't be used to hide what is so wrong!  How about also enforcing not drinking to the point of being drunk and then getting on their bike to go to work. I wish those who make the rules would follow them themselves.  I see so many times BIB higher ups ride around on their motorbike without a helmet.

Edited March 5, 2018 by thailand49

[anon789561]

i agree with most of it, ie, the haircuts, standing properly and speaking to the public in an appropriate manner but not so sure on the sunglasses. some of those traffic cops probably wouldn't be able to see what's coming their way on really sunny days and to expect them to not wear sunglasses when they are out there for hours is a bit much i think. perhaps, officers must remove sunglasses when addressing the public might have made more sense

[dbrenn]

1 hour ago, missoura said:

Will removing sunglasses really change behavior?

 

 

Face coverings like that look menacing - are they also banned? 

[newatthis]

7 hours ago, Happy enough said:

i agree with most of it, ie, the haircuts, standing properly and speaking to the public in an appropriate manner but not so sure on the sunglasses. some of those traffic cops probably wouldn't be able to see what's coming their way on really sunny days and to expect them to not wear sunglasses when they are out there for hours is a bit much i think. perhaps, officers must remove sunglasses when addressing the public might have made more sense

Correct. It's rude not  to remove your sunglasses when talking to others.

Edited March 5, 2018 by metisdead
Please do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes or wording.

[anon789561]

2 minutes ago, dbrenn said:

 

Face coverings like that look menacing - are they also banned? 

you see i don't think that looks menacing. to me that looks like some thai copper who doesn't want to have dark skin. happy for him to wave me past. but if he pulls me over and wants to talk to me then he should remove the face covering and sunglasses before speaking to me. i would be fine with that. don't want to get a ticket from a stormtrooper

[mikebell]

Preposterous!  They'll be banning envelope collections next!

[kingstonkid]

I think a better solution is to provide and authorize 1 brand ad style   it is hard to take anyone wearing pink rimmed glasses seriously.

 

[faraday]

"Placing hand in pocket, makes man feel cocky"

[IamNoone88]

Well I do not think that I have ever seen any cops with prescription glasses either ..... must be pretty strict on the 20/20 vision.

[phetpeter]

It is correct that Police officers should remove dark and mirrored sunglasses when in conversation with a member of the public. otherwise they will act with attitude same as the US cops on Florida Toll ways. Eye contact is important, in developing a relationship with another even if it to scold and advise. Wear them when scanning or observing. Of course it will change attitude as people will be able to read the in a persons eyes as it is part of our communications with each other. The Officer will have no choice , nor be able to hide their true intentions or feelings. 

[ezzra]

Yeah.. i agree, i want to look into the eyes of the guy when i hand over the 200 baht 'in lieu

of going to the station' caper....

[ZeVonderBearz]

And no masks. Police shouldn't be able to conceal their identity. 

[stanleycoin]

yeah, get a hair cut, get a job, take the shades off,

Now try doing the job  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

opps,  it all falls down then. 

[petedk]

22 minutes ago, faraday said:

"Placing hand in pocket, makes man feel cocky"

Believe it or not one of my subordinates, when I worked in Denmark made an official complaint about me be cause I had my hands in my pockets while I was talking to her. She said she felt "threatened".

[kcpattaya]

Yet another great idea to add on to the shelve...

[petedk]

31 minutes ago, newatthis said:

Correct. It's rude not  to remove your sunglasses when talking to others.

I agree with you. I hate talking to someone when you have no idea if they are looking at you or not. Maybe it gives them a sense of superiority or something.

I always take mine off when I talk to people.

[pattayadon]

Police have not yet learned to wear a helmet when riding motorbike, now they're not suppose to wear glasses? How ridiculous is that? Thai police will continue their corrupt ways with or without glasses.  Image - 55555555 LMAO!

[Moti24]

Police banned from wearing sunglasses following haircut order as force gets an image makeover

 

Image makeover?  It'll be interesting to see the final result.

 

"You can dress a shop window mannequin in whatever clothes you want, but it'll still be a mannequin!"

[Ossy]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Chakthip’s policy on haircuts, which was reiterated on December 14 and January 30, led to random inspections last month, which found 40 MPB officers in Satun, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phang Nga breaking the rule and being ordered to make appropriate changes. 

This says it all, re the RTP's 'Men of Discipline' image. And this is after the Police Chief General Chakthip's 'statement, on November 15, that officers on duty must dress properly and have short haircuts', a reiteration of the policy one month later and random checks, during February. Quite simply, officers couldn't give a shit about orders from the very top cop.

 

There is an attitude problem, within the RTP that will be impossible to fix until all ranks literally bust a gut to carry out all rulings concerning behaviour and public image. If ranks aren't listening and obeying their boss, now, the only way to change that is to change the boss, which is what I and many other posters have been hankering after this for months, now. If we can see the spanner in the works, why can't the Powers that be? Too scared to use the 'power', maybe.

 

Power (with wielding arms), force, discipline, respect, responsibility . . . all words that are dying the death, when it comes to Thailand's governmental departments and agencies. There's this 'couldn't-give-a-shit' disease and it's spreading without control. Any posters got an idea as to why?

Edited March 5, 2018 by Ossy
clarity

[RichardColeman]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A Bangkok office worker in her 30s, who asked not to be named, said police should not impose a ban on sunglasses as such a “petty” regulation could affect traffic police duties. 

Yes, love, but I dare say they are all probably buying the glasses from people that go around starting fights with American soldiers in bars !

[anon467367354]

I think what  it means is when talking to someone you've stopped, remove the sunglasses, it's only polite. 

Would going to someone's house for dinner and not removing your sunglasses be appropriate? I don't think so. 

As one that has been stopped numerous times having their faces completely covered is very intimidating if not cowardly 

which does help for purposes of extortion if that be the case.