Thai cops struggling under debt totalling Bt270bn, says police chief

[Patong2021]

Police in debt  makes it easier to  spread and keep corruption.  Why big debt now?

Cops draw same salary today as  1 year ago, correct?

Is big chief now admitting that non police salary sourced income is an important part of police compensation?

We now see what the impact of corruption is  in Thailand.

Here is an idea,  gradually increase police salary and provide uniform and equipment. Eliminate purchase of position and start to terminate corrupt and incompetent police. 

 

[Olivie]

1 minute ago, Patong2021 said:

Police in debt  makes it easier to  spread and keep corruption.  Why big debt now?

Cops draw same salary today as  1 year ago, correct?

 

The big difference between now and last year:

- No tourists farangs to fine  for helmets, driver licence, etc...

- No business to ask money for a lot of small things: I know someone who had a bar in Phuket, he was paying the police 3000€  ($3.500) each month just to let him sell chicha to his customers...

[JeffersLos]

Do the debt payments include the money paid to cheat on their entrance exam?

 

SI SA KET: -- Provincial Police Region 3 chief Pol Lt-General Panu Kerdlarppol said yesterday that officials were possibly behind the leakage of police entrance examination papers after a scam was recently uncovered in which civilians wishing to get into a police constabulary school in Si Sa Ket were caught cheating.

This week applicants in Nakhon Ratchasima were found with a vibrating device that was used to indicate answers to multiple-choice questions. This led to the arrest of six people who were allegedly given Bt10.5 million in cash from 30 applicants

[JeffersLos]

4 minutes ago, Olivie said:

I know someone who had a bar in Phuket, he was paying the police 3000€  ($3.500) each month just to let him sell chicha to his customers...

 

3,000 bhat per day tea money just for chicha is a lot. How much was he selling per day per person? 

[Olivie]

1 minute ago, JeffersLos said:

 

3,000 bhat per day tea money just for chicha is a lot. How much was he selling per day per person? 

if I remember the price, each chicha was 350-400 baht, some were more expensive than that. Mostly french customers, they like it.

[worgeordie]

Those higher up will not be struggling with debt,their problem will

be where to put all the money...

regards worgeordie

[Geoffggi]

I'm sorry but I do not see anything that should differentiate the police from the rest of the working class Thai's therefore why give them any special treatment ......????

[ThailandRyan]

My ex-Brother In-law was asked to pay 1M Thb to obtain a rank increase and transfer to another location about 5years ago.  When he refused he was removed from his position and sidelined for 6 months before he was transferred and placed in a traffic unit without the rank he had tested for and for which he had obtained two more college courses and a degree in order to promote.  HIs Benefactor had retired so he was left in the lurch.  Internal corruption is big.  When he first applied for the RTP he was asked for a donation to place him in the Academy of 250k Thb, when he did not pay he was shuffled off to another Academy location after he had placed high on the list by testing.  It took him 5 years before he could even transfer the 1st time as folks below him kept getting advanced because they went in debt by taking loans out and bribing the higher ups.  I do not think these loans were just for cars or houses, I think a lot of it may be personal loans that they took to advance their careers and hoped to make it back by backhanders and such, but the economy and lack of tourists or people having money have hindered them.  For my ex-Bil, he has never taken a pay-off, but he has never been given any assignments he has not earned, and only after a long wait has he advanced.  See how young some of these top commanders look and ask yourself how can a young man of just barely over 30 attain the rank and position of a Station commander in under 10 years without a degree, and pay offs for the position.  Yes there are some genuinely decent members of the RTP, but then for every one of them there are probably many more that have not earned a position, and therefore end of being the ones you hear about facing an inactive post.

[GeorgeCross]

maybe should start a gofundme page 

 

 

[tonray]

My next door neighbors are a 50ish Mom and her 20 something daughter. The daughter has a Thai policeman boyfriend who stays over a couple of nights a week. He looks to be about 30, maybe younger. He usually parks across from our house just because we are at the end of the Soi and there is extra space there. I have noted no fewer than 4 different vehicles he routinely uses, 1 large truck, 1 small Jeep-like sport vehicle, a big white luxury sedan and a smaller black Honda.

 

I imagine he's got a plum assignment somehwhere...unless this is all borrowed money ?

Edited January 30, 2021 by tonray

[Odysseus123]

4 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yes there are some genuinely decent members of the RTP, but then for every one of them there are probably many more that have not earned a position, and therefore end of being the ones you hear about facing an inactive post.

Yours is a very good post.

As you say the concept of a meritocracy is usually lacking in Thailand and you pay for your position and and advancement exactly as the officers in the 19th century British Army did and,of course,exactly as the great empires of India and the East functioned.

 

History shows that when a class of functionaries such as these get into major and endemic debt then corruption skyrockets and the state is ultimately placed in peril.

 

The fact that Thailand has never been able to modernize it police forces (or its armed forces for that matter) speaks volumes about a state which yearns to be "upgraded"on the world stage but whose institutions remain firmly fixed in the 3rd world.

 

So yes-give them far better wages,drop the loans to purchase equipment and abolish the "purchase" system for privileges and positions.

[ChipButty]

53 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

My ex-Brother In-law was asked to pay 1M Thb to obtain a rank increase and transfer to another location about 5years ago.  When he refused he was removed from his position and sidelined for 6 months before he was transferred and placed in a traffic unit without the rank he had tested for and for which he had obtained two more college courses and a degree in order to promote.  HIs Benefactor had retired so he was left in the lurch.  Internal corruption is big.  When he first applied for the RTP he was asked for a donation to place him in the Academy of 250k Thb, when he did not pay he was shuffled off to another Academy location after he had placed high on the list by testing.  It took him 5 years before he could even transfer the 1st time as folks below him kept getting advanced because they went in debt by taking loans out and bribing the higher ups.  I do not think these loans were just for cars or houses, I think a lot of it may be personal loans that they took to advance their careers and hoped to make it back by backhanders and such, but the economy and lack of tourists or people having money have hindered them.  For my ex-Bil, he has never taken a pay-off, but he has never been given any assignments he has not earned, and only after a long wait has he advanced.  See how young some of these top commanders look and ask yourself how can a young man of just barely over 30 attain the rank and position of a Station commander in under 10 years without a degree, and pay offs for the position.  Yes there are some genuinely decent members of the RTP, but then for every one of them there are probably many more that have not earned a position, and therefore end of being the ones you hear about facing an inactive post.

Does the same thing happen in schools here in Thailand?

[PatOngo]

The problem is a lack of shady trees along the highways, how can you setup a road block to extort motorists if the there is not a shady tree to relax under? Try booking motocy riders not wearing helmets, no licences, kids riding mocy's, drunk drivers, speeding drivers, lazy cops! Just try being a police force, I know it's almost impossible as they really don't understand the concept but it just might be worth some long promised reform! ????

[jmccarty]

So on average, a cop has THB 1,291,866 of debt.  If this were only for newly borrowed home loans including interest for a 30 year loan, a cop would need THB 3,589/month to pay for the loan.   If the cop has no home loan debt, but bought a reasonable, not expensive car and this is all the bank debt, a 6 year loan, if this includes interest would need to pay the bank back THB 17,942/month.

 

Has Covid really done that much damage to cop salaries from the govt?

[JAS21]

11 hours ago, TVGerry said:

If you can't afford it, why are you buying large items like cars and houses in the first place?

I would’ve thought most people in Thailand have a ( loan) mortgage for their house.

 

I expect this debt is included in their total debt

[AhFarangJa]

In the soi that our bar is in there must be at least another 40. At 1k a month it is a heavy loss, especially when you add in the other areas.

I have an idea though......get out on the streets, stop and fine people for traffic infringements, the usual motorbikes etc. Throw in a pile of unroadworthy cars, bald tyres, overloading, illegal parking, no number plates, driving the wrong way, jumping lights, no tax, no licence,  speeding, loud exhausts, excess exhaust fumes, driving with no lights, etc, etc.

Issue tickets, and collect the fines legally, then use the money to improve salaries, job prospects on merit, not graft or family connections. You might just obtain a semi professional force in a decade or so.

Having said all that, the down side would be a less relaxed Thailand that many of us here secretly relish, 

[ThailandRyan]

16 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Does the same thing happen in schools here in Thailand?

I have to affirmatively say, YES.  That's how some government teachers are able to gain employment, some children are able to enter certain schools.  Unfortunately graft and corruption are intertwined in daily life.

[thailand49]

This is a real bold statement want to help by asking the government to support their families while the general population goes hungry and homeless? Open business for the wives and scholarships for the their kids?  ????  I guess everyone else is chop liver?

[ChipButty]

4 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

In the soi that our bar is in there must be at least another 40. At 1k a month it is a heavy loss, especially when you add in the other areas.

I have an idea though......get out on the streets, stop and fine people for traffic infringements, the usual motorbikes etc. Throw in a pile of unroadworthy cars, bald tyres, overloading, illegal parking, no number plates, driving the wrong way, jumping lights, no tax, no licence,  speeding, loud exhausts, excess exhaust fumes, driving with no lights, etc, etc.

Issue tickets, and collect the fines legally, then use the money to improve salaries, job prospects on merit, not graft or family connections. You might just obtain a semi professional force in a decade or so.

Having said all that, the down side would be a less relaxed Thailand that many of us here secretly relish, 

Dont be giving them idea's I like it the way it is

[chrisandsu]

11 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

In the soi that our bar is in there must be at least another 40. At 1k a month it is a heavy loss, especially when you add in the other areas.

I have an idea though......get out on the streets, stop and fine people for traffic infringements, the usual motorbikes etc. Throw in a pile of unroadworthy cars, bald tyres, overloading, illegal parking, no number plates, driving the wrong way, jumping lights, no tax, no licence,  speeding, loud exhausts, excess exhaust fumes, driving with no lights, etc, etc.

Issue tickets, and collect the fines legally, then use the money to improve salaries, job prospects on merit, not graft or family connections. You might just obtain a semi professional force in a decade or so.

Having said all that, the down side would be a less relaxed Thailand that many of us here secretly relish, 

Agree . If they want a sanatised Thailand maybe they  should just go home instead . I enjoy the freedom that Thailand has that the west has completely lost.  

Edited January 30, 2021 by chrisandsu

[tonray]

8 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

Agree . If they want a sanatised Thailand maybe they  should just go home instead . I enjoy the freedom that Thailand has that the west has completely lost.  

That's right...nobody is going to take away my PM 2.5 !

[DuiDui48]

God morning from a very nice Udon-Thani!

 

Well,first you have the Teachers begging for help with their debt payments,and now the police,what's next,staff at the Hospitals i guess.What a joke,policewifes setting up some hole-in-the wall buissness..Ever heard of working OVERTIME..working hard..say 14-16 hours a day..like i did when i opened my bakery.

They just put a a small Policebox not for from were i live,and guess what hanging just infront the P-box..a freaking HAMMOCK..that's a sign in it self..It's patetic just to ask for acually do their work in a proper manner..

 

"

 Another is to look at assets confiscated by the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

 

He added that he has contacted corporations to request scholarships for police officers’ children.

 

Should have sad:...request scholarships for police officers.To educate themself so they can do a PROPER Policework..and be abel to seek for higher paid spots/ranks..= more money...hey maybe even learn some English so they can talk whith all these Tourists waiting in the wings to come here and spend some holiday money..ToT just said that 10 millions are standing in queue..Many things can be said regarding the,in many cases,the lack of PROPER education of the Policeforce,and it's not to much POSITIVE thing to say..

 

Yeah,i know,but read it whith sarcasm in mind,okey ????

 

Have a great day everyone and thank you for reading my "morning rant";-)

[zaZa9]

Their biggest debt is in paying off superiors up the line ( Like  Chiefs ) to be accepted into the squad , equipped and trained and .......for that oh so lucrative posting.

[ChipButty]

28 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

In the soi that our bar is in there must be at least another 40. At 1k a month it is a heavy loss, especially when you add in the other areas.

I have an idea though......get out on the streets, stop and fine people for traffic infringements, the usual motorbikes etc. Throw in a pile of unroadworthy cars, bald tyres, overloading, illegal parking, no number plates, driving the wrong way, jumping lights, no tax, no licence,  speeding, loud exhausts, excess exhaust fumes, driving with no lights, etc, etc.

Issue tickets, and collect the fines legally, then use the money to improve salaries, job prospects on merit, not graft or family connections. You might just obtain a semi professional force in a decade or so.

Having said all that, the down side would be a less relaxed Thailand that many of us here secretly relish, 

In the small Tambon that i live in the average was 3000 baht a month I dont know about now as far as I know it wasnt just the bars a friend of mine had a motorbike rent shop and they asked him for 5000 baht he only gave them 3, now with so many places closed down and the ones that are still open not doing enough business I dont know whats happening,

Always with the road blocks it was always from 10am right now when I go out there is nobody about.

There is a set of lights near me if they stood there between 4pm till 8pm the amount of people who jump red lights, turn left on red lights, no lights on their bikes all the usual stuff they could earn a small fortune, But who am I to say?

[Asquith Production]

This is what Goggle says. 

A person working as a Police Officer in Thailand typically earns around 60,400 THB per month. Salaries range from 27,800 THB (lowest) to 96,000 THB (highest).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Police Officer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location.

http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=215&loctype=1&job=504&jobtype=3

[Benmart]

Pathetic, but not surprising.

[scorecard]

9 hours ago, chrisandsu said:

Didn’t expect much positivity on this thread but I’ll give it a go .... when I first came to Thailand 15 years ago the police were way more corrupt then they are now . I’d be stopped continuously and fined for absolutely nothing . The last 5 years it rarely happens and if it does they actually give me a ticket to pay at the police station . Maybe they are all getting their handouts from other sources these days but they have improved .

On the other hand, when the Yingluck gov't was thrown out some army officers appeared very quickly at a big house occupied by a snr cop, near my house, in my village in CM. 24/7 always numerous police luxury cars, pick ups, tow trucks etc., parked in the street, blocking driveways etc. 

 

Snr Cop was taken away surrounded by army personnel with rifles etc. Many snr/jnr cops had arrived and were outside the house along with many police vehicles. They made no attempt to interfere.

 

A couple of days later it appeared in the Thai press, the cop taken away was charged with massive corruption, plus charges relating to using large amounts of police resources (vehicles, equipment, officers) on a permanent basis to run his numerous 'activities'. 

 

Further, it had been established that he had a personal body guard / helpers team of 12 men (civilians) and most of the police vehicles were being driven by his civilian team. One luxury car always on stand by with uniformed driver to take his wife shopping etc., and to take/pick up his kids to/from school.  

 

Within about 2 days the family moved out, never seen again.

 

A few months later snr cop discharged from RTP and jailed for 20+ years.

 

At that time I took 2 of my grandkids to school every morning and picked them up in the afternoon. In the afternoon many farang dads/grandfathers/ and a few Thai men gathered to chat and wait for school to finish. 

 

Just after the snr cop above was taken away one of the Thai men who spoke good English (turned out to be a retired snr cop) mentioned that the snr cop taken away was just the tip of the iceberg. 

 

Edited January 30, 2021 by scorecard

[elgenon]

So he is saying ANYONE can start and run a business successfully? If most people try they will increase their debt. Get real dude!

 

I would be very careful driving and document your every move as much as you can. The spiders are watching you and they are hungry.

[zyphodb]

5 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

This is what Goggle says. 

A person working as a Police Officer in Thailand typically earns around 60,400 THB per month. Salaries range from 27,800 THB (lowest) to 96,000 THB (highest).

This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Police Officer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location.

http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=215&loctype=1&job=504&jobtype=3

I don't know where they got that from, having family members who started in the Police and then left because of no money to bribe their way off the bottom rank the starting salary is 9000 odd Baht/month...

[ChipButty]

I just remembered something from many years ago, In my younger days I worked for a finance company and top of the agenda was dont lend money to Teachers and Police they are all in debt, that was back in the UK