Thai police in massive debt - they owe 270 billion baht

[rwill]

It's not just police officers in this predicament.  Why not bail them out too?

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, khunpa said:

Maybe time to establish a completely new police force and way of doing things. You know like in countries where policing means upholding and enforcing the law. Do good and unselfish things to protect and serve the community…

They wouldn't understand the concept. Not part of the Me First culture.

[JesseHumphry]

So wait, just so I'm clear, the police force itself is not in debt, members of said police force are in individual debt. 

And the proposed solution for that is to set up low-interest government loans (also known as 'free money from taxpayers') to assist these cops in paying back the loans that they probably should have never taken out in the first place. 

Do I have that right? 

Thailand in general has a massive debt bubble set to pop any minute. Why are the police asking for a special government-backed exception when they'd be the ones going to arrest people for failure to pay off their own loans? What in the upside-down world is going on?

[AussieinThaiJim]

6 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Time for an increase in their tea money charges? 

Enough tea money already. Look at “joe Ferrari “. Time to stop the lending!

[Liverpool Lou]

31 minutes ago, BestB said:

I thought you were an all out expert on all Thailand and Thai related, there is no subject you do not know about

I'm so glad that you understand that, thanks for your support.    I don't know everything about everything, there was one time, I think in 1998, when something stumped me!

[mran66]

6 hours ago, khunpa said:

Life’s not easy when you have to buy into your job position and your normal revenue stream from illegal activities and corruption goes down.

 

Maybe time to establish a completely new police force and way of doing things. You know like in countries where policing means upholding and enforcing the law. Do good and unselfish things to protect and serve the community…

 

Yes, I know… never going to happen…

 

 

Would interesting to see a report that shows how the money flows from and to each different rank (level average per person at each level) to buy a position, and the share of tea money coming in).

 

would be nice graphics sure - should be part of annual govt reporting here with trend visibility!

 

 

[freedomnow]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He admitted that in Loei in the north east police there owe 700 million baht.

Got to pay for what is smuggled over the border somehow.

 

Looking out for "RTP Lear Jet Larry" to crawl out the woodwork in news soon.

[Liverpool Lou]

35 minutes ago, BestB said:

Did you need some education on how getting more fines helps police and individual police officers?

Not from you!

[Airalee]

1 hour ago, crickets said:

Teachers are in even more debt.

Yup…looks like you are correct.  Less than 4x the number of total teachers (900,000 vs @250,000) and more than 5 times the amount of debt.

 

“Thailand’s Education Ministry has unveiled the government’s plans to tackle debtsowed by about 900,000 teachers nationwide, worth about 1.4 trillion baht.”

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-to-tackle-1-4-trillion-baht-teachers-debts-nationwide-373457

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Police , Teachers ,other Civil servants , Thai Airways ,

Railways , what is the real amount of debt in Thailand, 

but the Government is supposed to be holding massive

amounts of Foreign exchange , has anyone been down

in the vaults lately to check it's still there ......

regards Worgeordie

Oh I am sure it is safely lodged.

 

Changing the subject completely, 7/11 has a good deal on Toblerone this week!

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, sambum said:

Actually, paying them a decent salary might attract a better standard of recruit. 

 

Add to that the fact that they have to pay for their own uniform, motor bike, and gun, it is little wonder that a lot of them get into debt. Probably the ones that don't are the ones that supplement their income by "scams"!

I agree with your post sambum, because the pay for the everyday policeman, and his superiors is pathetic, and as the old saying goes, "if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys".

 

I know they have to apply and pay for their positions, and that makes things worse, because they think they are on the road out of poverty, and will be given certain benefits, and the easy credit/money seems to be one of them, but it comes back to bite in the end.

 

I'm sure some of them would love to be able to do a good job, with proper training and with a decent salary, but when you're struggling financially, the whole situation becomes "clouded" and it seems easier to let corruption creep in.

 

That's my 10 pence worth.

[Thunglom]

A policeman in Thailand is more businessman than servant and protector of the public. Thailand seems to rely on "donations" rather than salaries for ALL forms of public servants - the police are no exception and nee reform from top to bottom. They aren't properly trained in any of the areas that police usually are - crime prevention and detection. Police also in most countries are considered to be authorities on road safety, not the case in Thailand with no effective specialised officers.

 

Police are the only armed opposition to the military so the government certainly would be uncomfortable with a large police force.

 

Like most government employees their salaries are so low they need bolstering by other methods. Apart from businessl methods there is always the opportunity to get a good credit rating and just go into debt that way.

 

Police, as I understand it even have to buy their own arms and transportation - starting salraies were around 5000 to 12000 per mont - and there were rumours of having to buy commissions too. They are also militarily trained - therefore seen a military force rather than a civil body

This is a totally unsatisfactory situation but it cuts at the very base of any democratic society and Thailand needs to address some fundamental issues of democracy before they can get a civil pliceforce that works properly.

 

[overt2016]

4 hours ago, ohno said:

You could literally write this article about any group of people.

 

Nurses owe finance firms a staggering xxxxxx baht

Farmers owe finance firms a staggering xxxxxx baht

Small business owners owe finance firms a staggering xxxxxx baht

People who live in Udon Thani owe finance firms a staggering xxxxxx baht

Bald people owe finance firms a staggering xxxxxx baht

No I don't.

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

I didn't understand a word for this article.. the Thai police owe billions to whom? and to re-finance their debts? what is this, a private police force funded by non government fiances companies?...

Even reading the full story it is not clear, induvial cops have taken out loans and cant pay them back, but by the headline it appeared the police force are in debt, why do people take out loans knowing they can't pay them back, but maybe they were hoping to nab more than they have, 'ol Joe Ferrari made a fortune from this method.  

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

I didn't understand a word for this article.. the Thai police owe billions to whom? and to re-finance their debts? what is this, a private police force funded by non government fiances companies?...

Even reading the full story it is not clear, induvial cops have taken out loans and cant pay them back, but by the headline it appeared the police force are in debt, why do people take out loans knowing they can't pay them back, but maybe they were hoping to nab more than they have, 'ol Joe Ferrari made a fortune from this method.  

[farangroby]

7 hours ago, Denim said:

It means individual police officers , using their position as government employees , have taken out private loans to buy cars and homes etc but are struggling to make repayments having bitten off more than they can chew.

It means individual police officers , using their salary as government employees , have to pay back their private loans to buy cars and homes etc

[Sydebolle]

Well, the Ferraris and previously the SEL500s do not come cheap. The concubines (Mia Noi) and the gambling debts, the lack of income from all those tea houses, bars of ill repute and law benders (95% of the population) ...... leaves scars and traces. 

Maybe we should consider a governmental safety net for bankrupted police officers or those who want even more than they steal now! 

Throw the entire bunch out; pay up or impound/confiscate assets. Worked wonders in Pakistan and Indonesia and eventually will work in Thailand as of the year 2981 (Gregorian calendar that is). 

You're welcome! 

[dutchweller]

No surprises

All the police I know are very poorly educated and have in the past had access to any lone they wanted..

Almost all of the loaned money was blown on totally useless garbage.

My Brother in law is a senior police in a semi rural town he is in debit up to his eyeballs and has NOTHING to show for it.
 

The Dmax has new wheels and a massive sound system but is falling apart..

The Honda City has new tires and wheels  but is falling apart and is never serviced.

The house (my wife owns due to her taking over the finances on it ) is falling apart while he lives in it for free..

The family rice farm my wife owns due to the same reason he took out unserviceable lone using the farm as leverage..
 

BIL is in debit so much his entire salary is used to service his lones.
The family of 6 live off the his wifes School teacher salary lucky she is quite smart and practical..

Every time we visit Mum and Dad BIL askes me what he should do to make some money... I have given up trying to help he is a moron and from what I know all his mates at the station are in the same predicament..

Giving these morons access to lone is just stupid but hey when has the government done anything that is not..

[mrfill]

2 hours ago, sambum said:

Actually, paying them a decent salary might attract a better standard of recruit. 

 

Add to that the fact that they have to pay for their own uniform, motor bike, and gun, it is little wonder that a lot of them get into debt. Probably the ones that don't are the ones that supplement their income by "scams"!

And, of course, paying them a bigger salary means they can borrow even more!!

[brucegoniners]

There are so many potential jokes here...

[dallen52]

Those were the days..

 

Tourists come back please...

[mommysboy]

Looks like the tourism slump has hit them hard too!

[chrisbangkok]

7 hours ago, Mavideol said:

one has to wonder who and where/which pockets ALL that side boosting income goes.... with the amount of $$$$$ corruption they collect/grab it is hard to believe they are on the red, somebody is not sharing

Struggling due to bar closures , lack of gullible tourists , factory closures , less illegals border hopping etc etc .. under the table income on which they rely is drying up . They'll do what most mafia do ( they are undoubtedly  mafia) , change income streams to more lucrative things  IF they avoid the good generals desires to shut them all down.

[GeorgeCross]

4 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

From 31 years personal experience any Thai girl that says she is connected usually isn't. They like to talk it up though. My family this and my family that. 

 

All bravado. 

 

When they find out who I know they soon keep quiet. 

good for you bud. but i know who they know as they've introduced me.

[Bobydog]

7 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Time for an increase in their tea money charges? 

Or go to their Superiors for advice as to how does one amass a collection of high  value sports cars on a low wage?

[Muhendis]

Taken in isolation the Thai policemen's personal debt of 270 Billion Baht looks bad. However, Q2 2021 household debt in Thailand was a staggering 14.3 Trillion Baht mainly due to excessive spending during the pandemic.

http:// https://www.scbeic.com/en/detail/product/7870#:~:text=In Q2%2F2021%2C Thailand's household,the highest among developing countries.

The police are lucky they have a boss who might pick up the pieces.

[Thingamabob]

Police, teachers, civil servants-all drowning in debt, and always have been. Nothing new.

[Richard1950]

Thailand is rapidly heading back to third world status. They fail to understand even the basics of economics and their failure to grasp any concept of 'future' doesn't help the situation.

Corruption in Thailand starts at the very top and filters all the way to the bottom and any mention of Thailand on social media usually carries the words corruption or rip-off.

What a pity such a beautiful country is wasted on such grasping, horrible people. Still, it won't be too long before the baht collapses and it will be worth visiting again.

And before anyone thinks this is uninformed opinion, I lived and worked in Thailand for 6 years and left because I couldn't stand the ignorance - used in both contexts - selfishness and racism

[AustinRacing]

Not the sharpest tools in the shed the police officers I’ve come in contact with. Heavy drinking and gambling with low iq’s. Hardly a surprise they have financial problems amongst other daily issues they have. 

[thailand49]

Sounds like a <deleted> personal problem!????  get me some tissue!