PM Abhisit Wants To Raise Police Salaries To Improve Performance

[webfact]

PM: Raising Police Salaries to Improve Performance

The Prime Minister is urging police to work harder in preventing drug abuse, adding that the raise in police salary expected next year will result in their better performance.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called on the police force to try their best to quell drug abuse across the nation, adding police salary raises, which are expected to go into effect in April 2011, will encourage better performance.

The premier said police officers should work continuously to suppress drug rings and should not be waiting for official policies from the government.

He also noted that police officers who are found to be involved in the drug trade will receive a stiffer penalty than ordinary civilians.

Concerning the weapons that drug dealers use to fight police, he said officials must work much harder on this issue, as the weapons come from neighboring countries.

Abhisit said he believes a public awareness campaign will help reduce this problem.

The premier disclosed that the rise in police officers' monthly salary will go into effect in April 2011 and said that the new rate will be retroactive from October 2010.

The Finance Ministry is said to be in the process of finding a 1.1 billion baht budget to invest in the pay increases.

When asked about the establishment of the Civil Servant Union, Abhisit said the idea will strengthen the role of civil servants and it is also in line with the Constitution.

National Police Chief, Police General Wichian Photphosee echoed the premier saying the rise in salary will increase the efficiency of all police officers.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-27

[scorecard]

Could be good news:

- If it means that the salary is capable of attracting more qualified people, and recruitment requirements are in fact lifted, so as to build a more qualified police force.

Including various professional assessments and checks to ensure that candidates have the desired behaviors and morals.

And at the same time do whatever is necessary to stop nepotism, buying of employment and buying of promotions. Instant dismissal of anybody found to be involved in these practices could be a start.

[Thaddeus]

It will have to be one heck of a raise for some of them to stop their extracurricular activities.

[SomTumTiger]

It's a start

[TAWP]

Raising salaries doesn't work on politicians or government employees, why would it work on the police?

What is needed is a generational shift. A new police academy, fresh set of recruits infused with pride in their profession, harder training and higher salary upon graduation - and they only ride 2 and 2 with other new recruits, to avoid the old gang pushing them into the same tea-money-grabbing operations. Give all older officials 2 year amnesty to retire or quit and after that prosecute those that remain and get caught to the fullest extent of the law.

[jayjay0]

Could be good news:

- If it means that the salary is capable of attracting more qualified people, and recruitment requirements are in fact lifted, so as to build a more qualified police force.

Including various professional assessments and checks to ensure that candidates have the desired behaviors and morals.

And at the same time do whatever is necessary to stop nepotism, buying of employment and buying of promotions. Instant dismissal of anybody found to be involved in these practices could be a start.

Very well said.

The existing force should be working on it now with out the raise. But as you say if it can attract a more qualified canondade it is money well spent. That being said it is money they should have invested long ago.

When I say qualified I really mean honest. I am sure the effect will be felt down the line.

It is a horrendous mess they have to straighten out and I am glad to see them do it slowly. To do it all at once would be similar to putting a kick me sign on and then wondering why people are kicking you.

[givenall]

Could be good news:

- If it means that the salary is capable of attracting more qualified people, and recruitment requirements are in fact lifted, so as to build a more qualified police force.

Including various professional assessments and checks to ensure that candidates have the desired behaviors and morals.

And at the same time do whatever is necessary to stop nepotism, buying of employment and buying of promotions. Instant dismissal of anybody found to be involved in these practices could be a start.

It is impossible to make them honest policemen, unless he recruits new recruits and teach them ethics, too many police with gun so he is trying to make sure they are on his side (it is matching fund to Mt. T. payoff only)

[ChiangMaiFun]

Good news! but hold them ACCOUNTABLE - set objectives and have appraisals based on merit not backhanders!

[chuang]

Raising salaries doesn't work on politicians or government employees, why would it work on the police?

What is needed is a generational shift. A new police academy, fresh set of recruits infused with pride in their profession, harder training and higher salary upon graduation - and they only ride 2 and 2 with other new recruits, to avoid the old gang pushing them into the same tea-money-grabbing operations. Give all older officials 2 year amnesty to retire or quit and after that prosecute those that remain and get caught to the fullest extent of the law.

Get " The Untouchable "

[kropotkin]

The official salary is only an extra.

The evil has happened and can not be undone.

Set up an alternative real police force, get rid of the old one - to save faces, put them in charge of counting stars or something.

Same same for plenty other "officials".

And - NO - i am not thai bashing..... same same for many "suits' in the western world.

[jaltsc]

Here's a new thought. How about basing increased salaries on increased performance? Of course there are different interpretations of "increased performance". One is a hunger for better enforcement of the law. Another is quenching ones thirst for tea.

[roiethome]

I might be looking for the hidden agenda, but is this salary increase supposed to buy the support of more police officers for next year's election showdown ?

[kropotkin]

Here's a new thought. How about basing increased salaries on increased performance? Of course there are different interpretations of "increased performance". One is a hunger for better enforcement of the law. Another is quenching ones thirst for tea.

I agree with you 100%.

Unfortunately, your suggestion is slightly ahead of times, even in the more civiliced parts of this planet....

[saintofsilence]

Put every officer on a warning that it will be instant dismissal if continuing to be corrupt and a pay rise to all whistle blowers

[ChiangMaiFun]

I might be looking for the hidden agenda, but is this salary increase supposed to buy the support of more police officers for next year's election showdown ?

yup...

[monkfish]

Is raising police salaries the solution to drug problems? I doubt it!

I have a family member in the police force, he earns a good salary on Thai standards (equal to that of a teacher)

gets free housing, free public transport and loads of other free extras including a state pension when he retires.

Needless to say he's happy.

Next up before the election will be civil servants and soldiers.

Did they pay the doctors yet?

[Siam Simon]

Put every officer on a warning that it will be instant dismissal if continuing to be corrupt and a pay rise to all whistle blowers

I suspect there would be more than a few pay rises awarded to dead officers.

[SoftWater]

Good idea but it needs to go along with professionalisation. This is how they transformed the similarly corrupt and law-unto-itself British police force from the 70s onwards. Pay rises need to be substantial to make policing an attractive profession to capable people, but they need to go along with regular training courses and examinations that offer real opportunities and incentives to rank and file officers while leaving behind and cutting out the deadwood.

90% of the battle for law & order in this country is getting the police to obey the law themselves. No easy task and it's never going to be an overnight process, but it is something that is long overdue here.

Edited December 27, 2010 by SoftWater

[creck]

This PM could start to make a difference.

Nothing else will improve the police without a rise in Pay. Of course it is not enough by itself.

[Khun Jean]

Here's a new thought. How about basing increased salaries on increased performance? Of course there are different interpretations of "increased performance". One is a hunger for better enforcement of the law. Another is quenching ones thirst for tea.

I agree with you 100%.

Unfortunately, your suggestion is slightly ahead of times, even in the more civiliced parts of this planet....

Increased 'performance' in 'civilised' parts of the world is measured on how many tickets are given for speeding, littering, etc. In other words, make money on easy targets, without risk and full support of the courts.

Catching criminals has never been so low on the priority list. If a criminal is caught it costs a lot of money and a lot of time, very cost inefficient.

That is the trend.

[Cnxforever]

<br>Is raising police salaries the solution to drug problems? I doubt it!<br><br>I have a family member in the police force, he earns a good salary on Thai standards (equal to that of a teacher)<br>gets free housing, free public transport and loads of other free extras including a state pension when he retires.<br>Needless to say he's happy.<br><br>Next up before the election will be civil servants and soldiers.<br><br>Did they pay the doctors yet?<br>

agree with you - it's nothing but a pay off before the elections. Problem is someone will have to pay at the end - and it will be the tax payer.

Government employees here are already over payed for the (mostly) lousy job they are doing - if you include all the perks you mention above - in addition they get free education for their kids, they easily get loans from banks for houses, cars; - which many ordinary Thais can not.

They will never stop taking money on the side even if you double their salaries!

The only thing that would work is like somebody mentioned here is to replace them all with a brand new force like they did in Korea. Start at the top - get rid of them all - there is not one who is not dirty - as you can only get to the top here if you paid your way up and then recoup your money from those below you - an endless cycle of greed and corruption.

Imagine the private sector would reward mediocre performance, corruption, stealing by their employees - the entire economy would break down.

A salary hike will not accomplish anything - the police-force in this country is a disgrace - rewarding them with higher salaries is an insult to the taxpaying public!!

Edited December 28, 2010 by Cnxforever

[TAWP]

Indeed, a salary-increase as above is to reward incompetence, corruption and laziness.

At my job they fire people instead...

Edited December 28, 2010 by TAWP