Reform of national police force closer

[Lite Beer]

SPECIAL REPORT
Reform of national police force closer
Kamonchanok Thikhakul
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The much-awaited reform of the Royal Thai Police is closer to reality now that the junta-installed National Reform Council (NRC) has approved the establishment of a so-called National Police Affairs Council, which will oversee the entire force.

This independent body will be composed of members from outside agencies, including judicial and human-rights personnel, along with a supervisory panel consisting of members of Parliament and senators, as per a proposal put forward this week by NRC panel spokesman Wanchai Sornsiri.

It has also been proposed that the police force be decentralised, with precincts being run by provincial and local authorities, while units with nationwide authority be assigned to relevant state agencies, such as the Tourism Police being put under the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

The powerful Police Commission, which handles and approves reshuffles within the police force while also making policies and giving directions to the Royal Thai Police, will also be abolished.

The 11-member Police Commission, chaired by the prime minister, will become a new nine-member operative body under guidelines issued by the military's ruling National Council for Peace and Order.

Two new members will be added to the commission - a deputy prime minister hand-picked by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and the permanent secretary of the Defence Ministry - a move that many policemen see as intervention by the military. The junta expects these choices to apply in future governments as well.

The 22-member National Police Policy Board, which makes policies, directs police-related strategies and appoints members of the Police Commission, will now become a new 13-member body comprising several experts, two of whom will be picked by the Senate.

Breaking chain of command

Also, the chain of command in the national police bureau, running from the top to divisions, sub-divisions and police stations, will be gone and replaced by units such as central command, the provincial headquarters and police departments under local administrative bodies.

Introducing organisational changes in police authority and jurisdiction is not new, but one on a national scale with sweeping changes followed by reform is almost unheard of in Thailand.

However, the plan to decentralise national police is raising concerns about the possibility of local police departments being influenced by local politicians - which will create a new type of power monopoly as those in charge can use the police to further strengthen their authority.

At the national level, similar questions are being raised about how the National Police Affairs Council can ensure that it will not come under political control and influence from politicians once the government changes.

Recent surveys of police officers showed that many of them were fine with units being supervised by relevant civilian agencies, such as the Railway Police being put under the jurisdiction of the State Railway of Thailand.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau handed over the job of keeping streets tidy to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration more than a decade ago, and the Police Fire Division did the same in terms of fire, public safety and rescue operation in recent years.

Meanwhile, Tourism Police chief Pol Maj-General Aphichai Thi-armart warned that the real job of the police force should not be lost in the changes, proposing that the police should remain in charge of making arrests and conducting investigations. However, he conceded that it would be advantageous if the new set-up resulted in direct and better coordination between police units and their supervisory bodies.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Reform-of-national-police-force-closer-30249246.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-06

[simonuk]

Real wages ? Accountability? Corruption hot line?

[recycled]

All smoke and mirrors, no real changes except for the Junta getting control and direct access to the money.

[lovetotravel]

All smoke and mirrors, no real changes except for the Junta getting control and direct access to the money.

With the force being decentralized and controlled by government officials at the provincial and local level, I don't see how this will happen. If anything, it will allow these new individuals access to the money, not the junta.

The police force needs to be decentralized. It's basically an army for hire right now.

[BSJ]

"National Police Affairs Council" that makes a good acronym 'N-PAC'. Lets hope it means success in reforming the police from the current model.

[Crazy chef 1]

All smoke and mirrors, no real changes except for the Junta getting control and direct access to the money.

With the force being decentralized and controlled by government officials at the provincial and local level, I don't see how this will happen. If anything, it will allow these new individuals access to the money, not the junta.

The police force needs to be decentralized. It's basically an army for hire right now.

the current "police force" need to get sacked completely....and an entire new one have to be build with all the above mentioned good intentions.

[WhamBam]

Can you imagine what would happen in some high profile cases where the local police force is under the influence of local politicians.

Pattyaya police and the jet skis.

One island and the murder of two British people.

The list could go on and on and on.

[cougar52]

"National Police Affairs Council" that makes a good acronym 'N-PAC'. Lets hope it means success in reforming the police from the current model.

Do you mean this "current model": - In recent weeks a pattern of reported incidents of harassment, random daytime searches, detention and intimidation suggest an organized campaign by police is targeting tourists and foreign nationals.

[ldiablo]

Meanwhile, Tourism Police chief Pol Maj-General Apchichai Thi-armart warned that the real jobof the poloce force should not be lost in the changes. The police perception of their real job is extortion.

[wabothai]

If most of police is corrupt how are they going to reform?

Beats me !

[Eric Loh]

Reform, my ass. More a purge to get their own cronies in key positions. Corruption just change hands.

[jpeg]

Can you imagine what would happen in some high profile cases where the local police force is under the influence of local politicians.

Pattyaya police and the jet skis.

One island and the murder of two British people.

The list could go on and on and on.

Phuket? I mean, the entire island?

[slapout]

Oh you of little faith, I cannot imagine the RTP being any more corrupt nor worthless than what we experience/see/live with, at present. Someone needs to explain/teach the whole group what the term ''protect and service'' orginally meant

[Bkungbank]

Current systems is not working , if you want to get promoted either good jackker or buy it .

With new reform promotion based on preformance not bribery.

There are some loophole in every new laws but noting is prefect let made a first move.

[ginjag]

Real wages ? Accountability? Corruption hot line?

Wages according to performance of job description, protecting the public, NOT tea money collections. upholding the rule of law professionally.

Wage scale according to rank and work rate.

[ginjag]

Reform, my ass. More a purge to get their own cronies in key positions. Corruption just change hands.

Typical post from a non believer/pessimist.

[ginjag]

of mega corruption ??

If most of police is corrupt how are they going to reform?

Beats me !

Like most of the old government departments the numbers of scared to death runners must be enormous. This is brilliant to have mega probes, it is a form of thinning out the big players, would you stay on if in the past you were guilty ???

There are hundreds + on "gardening leave" or extended holidays abroad. AND GOOD.

[FangFerang]

Reform, my ass. More a purge to get their own cronies in key positions. Corruption just change hands.

Typical post from a non believer/pessimist.

What crap. "Non-believer".....really? Non-believer? So this a faith-based discussion? Since when? I hold the PM is an imaginary being who neither can wave his magic military wand, nor answer prayers.

In the case of praying and sprinkling holy water at your idol's feet, most refuse such idolatry and farce. In this case a pessimist is someone who actually knows the repeating history, sees the current strategies as ineffective, and states the obvious.

[cbluck58]

I cannot see the point of decentralizing corruption to a more local level - the entire force needs radical change and nothing short of a new start with a clean slate and a totally radical change of philosophy will do the trick.

A revised legal system would also help

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I see a lot of reshuffling and reorganizing and decentralizing in the OP report.

But I don't see much in terms of real REFORM!

If they're going to create an independent National Police Affairs Council and at the same decentralize the chain of command and put local police units under the control of local authorities, how's the NPAC going to exercise any control over that? And what's to prevent the whole thing devolving into widely varying police policies and approaches set by the locals in this or that area?

But more broadly, where does any of the OP deal with stopping or reducing corruption, turning the police force away from being a profiteer and sponsor of illegal activities, do anything to hold individual officers to a real professional code of law enforcement conduct, and provide real penalties for officers who violate professional standards as a deterrent to corruption???

Where does any of the OP deal with stopping or preventing the next Pongpat and Co.???

Edited December 6, 2014 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[waitforusalso]

Reform of national police force closer

Reform of Royal Thai Army further away

[sead]

Please.

Whatever happens it cant be worse than it already is!

[brucec64]

Reform, my ass. More a purge to get their own cronies in key positions. Corruption just change hands.

I agree. This is a high level restructuring to ensure that if thaksin or proxies get reelected they cannot control the police. It ensures the real power stays with the military. The reform does absolutely nothing to change the fact that the prime motivation of the police is to make money, not enforce the laws.

[rickirs]

An independent National Police Affairs Council, which will oversee the entire force.

What a FUBAR.

Just another NCPO but with a lot less firepower, manpower, and national authority. On the plus side the NPAC would have a lot less costly officers than the milityary. Will the NPAC have the authority to declare a stae of emergency or to ignore such if the government has such authority? Either way law enforcement would become very complex.

As far as accountability, I would guess that NACC will be allowed by the NCPO to investigate the NPAC for any possible dereliction of duty or corruption; otherwise the NCPO would be beyond NACC's reach as history has shown.

So then the civilian government will have two independent armed forces arrayed against it. Will we then see in the future police coups, followed by military coups? Democratic institutions cannot exist in such a fuedal system.

[Fiddlesticks]

Meanwhile, Tourism Police chief Pol Maj-General Aphichai Thi-armart warned that the real job of the police force should not be lost in the changes

Of course, fund raising for the BIB must not be lost in the changes!

[Zooheekock]

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Reform, my ass. More a purge to get their own cronies in key positions. Corruption just change hands.

Typical post from a non believer/pessimist.

Praise the Lord! For my eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord...

Meanwhile, back of planet Earth, Junta darling and current head of the police has unexplained assets of a quarter of a billion baht. The Thai army: Putting the form in reform.

[Thai at Heart]

This has taken how long to do? Very very slow

[Alwyn]

"The junta expects these choices to apply in future governments as well." They're not going anywhere are they? This Junta is here to stay, for good or for bad

[willyumiii]

An independent National Police Affairs Council, which will oversee the entire force.

What a FUBAR.

Just another NCPO but with a lot less firepower, manpower, and national authority. On the plus side the NPAC would have a lot less costly officers than the milityary. Will the NPAC have the authority to declare a stae of emergency or to ignore such if the government has such authority? Either way law enforcement would become very complex.

As far as accountability, I would guess that NACC will be allowed by the NCPO to investigate the NPAC for any possible dereliction of duty or corruption; otherwise the NCPO would be beyond NACC's reach as history has shown.

So then the civilian government will have two independent armed forces arrayed against it. Will we then see in the future police coups, followed by military coups? Democratic institutions cannot exist in such a fuedal system.

"Democratic institutions cannot exist in such a fuedal system."

Can you name a country where a true democracy does exist?

Even the USA, who strives to "spread democracy" around the world..

is actually a republic and not a democracy.

Democracy is a fantasy and an excuse to exploit others.

It does not really exist in the world today.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Year 3014

Reform of national police (RTP) force closer