Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid 

 

The Royal Thai Police has launched a pilot reform of suspect detention procedures in partnership with the United Kingdom, aiming to raise custody standards and strengthen human rights protections, with immediate implementation at eight police stations. The initiative was formally reviewed on 19 December 2025 at 13.00 when Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelabutr, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, inspected operations at Pathum Wan Metropolitan Police Station, one of the designated model sites.

 

The project is a joint effort between the Royal Thai Police and the UK government, designed to align Thai custody practices with international standards on safety, transparency and rights protection. The inspection was attended by Dave Thomas, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Thailand, Vanessa Jardine, Chief Constable of Northumbria Police and David Lawes, Senior Policing Adviser at the UK Home Office.

 

The programme was initiated under the direction of Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, who assigned Pol Gen Thatchai to drive the reform process on an accelerated timeline. Implementation began in 2024, with a focus on reshaping operational attitudes by emphasising that detention is part of the justice process and not a form of punishment.

 

According to Pol Gen Thatchai, the reform is built on three core principles. These include individual risk assessments covering health, allergies, chronic conditions, mental state and injuries, full and auditable documentation of all custody-related activities in line with the 2022 Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act and ensuring detainees are physically and mentally fit for questioning to support effective and fair investigations.

 

The pilot is currently operating at eight police stations under Metropolitan Police Division 6. Initial officers from Pathum Wan Police Station and Mueang Chanthaburi Police Station completed specialised training in the United Kingdom and have since transferred knowledge locally in collaboration with experts from Northumbria Police, creating consistent operational standards across participating sites.

 

Physical upgrades to detention facilities have also been introduced. These include enhanced safety measures, hygienic sleeping mattresses and a policy of holding suspects on a one-person-per-cell basis to protect human dignity and reduce the risk of adverse incidents within custody areas.

 

Thaitabloid reported that Pol Gen Thatchai said the Royal Thai Police is studying the establishment of central custody facilities at divisional or provincial level. Under this model, suspects would be transferred to centralised locations for arrest records, interrogation and detention under uniform standards, allowing patrol and investigative officers to return to frontline public safety duties and strengthening confidence in Thailand’s justice system.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Thailand and the UK are jointly piloting custody reforms at eight police stations to raise international standards.

• The programme focuses on risk assessment, transparency and detainee readiness for fair investigations.

• Plans are being studied for central custody facilities to improve efficiency and public trust.

 

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 Adapted  by  Asean Now from Thaitabloid  2025-12-20

 

 

 

Yer 'avin a laugh ! 

 

Do these ' suites ' have bedroom , lounge , pvt bathroom and kitchenette plus panoramic views ???

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

emphasising that detention is part of the justice process and not a form of punishment.

About time, but only at 8 stations, no doubt only in Bangkok........

A jolly for the UK delegation.

On 12/20/2025 at 9:38 AM, norfolkandchance said:

A jolly for the UK delegation.

That last picture doesn't look very 'jolly' .......

On 12/20/2025 at 9:38 AM, norfolkandchance said:

A jolly for the UK delegation.

yup!

On 12/20/2025 at 8:41 AM, trucking said:

 

Yer 'avin a laugh ! 

 

Do these ' suites ' have bedroom , lounge , pvt bathroom and kitchenette plus panoramic views ???

If you have the money.... 

Off topic troll posts removed

6 hours ago, topt said:

That last picture doesn't look very 'jolly' .......

that's because they brought a woman with them 

Hopefully this negotiated VIP treatment is only available to UK citizens, other countries must negotiate their own terms

              I cannot believe that The Royal Thai Police  would have any interest at all in being told how to do their jobs by foreigners, especially a woman.

It definitely goes against the grain. All will be forgotten once they leave.

            In these days of video conferencing was it really necessary to waste public money  by flying the UK plod out here?  who paid anyway?

8 hours ago, topt said:

That last picture doesn't look very 'jolly' .......

 

It's just dawned on them it's a waste of time and that Thai cop doesn't like being told he's got it all wrong.

8 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

yup!

 

What's not to like? I wouldn't have turned my nose up at it.

 

But part of my job in an earlier airline life was keeping tabs on outstations. Noone likes being checked up on even if they can't show it overtly so it takes velvet gloves to get results.

On 12/20/2025 at 1:41 AM, trucking said:

 

Yer 'avin a laugh ! 

 

Do these ' suites ' have bedroom , lounge , pvt bathroom and kitchenette plus panoramic views ???

That's probably an archived image from Taksin's hospital time.