Restraint of political influence aim in reforms mooted for Thai police force

[webfact]

Restraint of political influence aim in reforms mooted for police force
AMONCHANOK TEEKAKUL
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- VARIOUS FORMATS for a new national police body are under consideration in reforms planned for the Royal Thai Police.

They include transforming Royal Thai Police into a new ministry where police officers themselves could decide on the reshuffle of key positions - a fresh policy aimed at eliminating outside or political interference, according to a senior policeman tasked with processing the reform.

The new ministry would be led by a national commandant, and consist of a national inspector-general and a deputy, four deputy national commanders, and five assistant national commanders. The deputies and the assistants would have the rank of lieutenant-generals, instead of generals as at present, said Pol Lt-General Damrongsak Kittipraphas, commissioner of the police Office of Human Resources.

Authority in police investigations would be more independent under a new national structure called the National Investigation Board chaired by a police general. The board would comprise regional, provincial and district offices.

Another change considered unique is that the transformation of the police bureau would heed feedback from the public over key issues - a proposal the officer said was made to reflect on how the reform would best benefit the general community.

Needs of the public would be considered a priority, Damrongsak said. He said a recent session at the Royal Police Cadet Academy heard opinions from participants, who were mostly policemen supporting the reform, saying they wanted to be free from political interference or favouritism.

The RTP is organising brainstorming sessions aimed at gathering feedback from police and the public throughout the country. Reformers would need to hear from people on the job to find out how they would be affected, or how members of the public would best be served.

For example, to transfer the Railway Police Division to the State Railway of Thailand, it would need to be clear how the SRT was preparing to handle the takeover, he said.

Problems arising for the public would also need to be seen, and whether the takeovers would make services better, he said.

Damrongsak said feedback from the public would be further welcomed before the final proposal was concluded by the police department and later submitted to the government, by next month.

The proposals would then be processed further through the National Reform Council and the National Legislative Assembly.

The officer did not say why the national and independent RTP would be centralised into a ministry under a reform he was proposing. A ministry is run by a cabinet through executive power, whereas the reform's main objective is to keep it free from political interference.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Restraint-of-political-influence-aim-in-reforms-mo-30254394.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-19

[aussieinthailand]

Here's an idea for reforms,,,

Every cop shop should have 2 internal affairs cop's that are unknown (a mole)by the cop's or by each other, all corruption must be reported to 2 separate head offices both of which must present all corruption cases separately to an independent panel, and those proven to by corrupt, immediate dismissel of your job charged and gaoled just like every one els, second is the same for the military, then politicians so on and so forth for all public servants.

[englishoak]

The military isnt a public servant here.... just saying

[binjalin]

why not Army too? ah sorry different colour

[Somtamnication]

Corruption is too endemic within the force to trust them with promotions.

[WhizBang]

Corruption is too endemic within the force to trust them with promotions.

Corruption is too endemic within the force to trust them. Period.

Clean house first and then bring in fresh blood.

[MaxLee]

"BANGKOK: -- VARIOUS FORMATS for a new national police body are under consideration in reforms planned for the Royal Thai Police."

In other words: put the criminal influential ones in inactive posts replaced by new brainwashed generation cops,...

[recycled]

What is it like in a day of an airhead, am I missing out on something or are they really just a wasted space with no idea of reality as a normal person perceives it?

[Srikcir]

Police need to be accountable to the people they serve. This requires a decentralization of the current police structure to dilute the effect of national politics and make it more accuntable to the communities it serves. Putting the RTP under a ministry just strengthens centralization and actually makes it even more political in nature.

Any new constitution should also assure that the police cannot fall under military chain of command, even under martial law or military coup.

[Baerboxer]

why not Army too? ah sorry different colour

Do you really understand the difference between the military services and civilian police?

[mike324]

why not Army too? ah sorry different colour

yup they are part of the problem, but cleaning up the police will make a bigger difference.

[Baerboxer]

Police need to be accountable to the people they serve. This requires a decentralization of the current police structure to dilute the effect of national politics and make it more accuntable to the communities it serves. Putting the RTP under a ministry just strengthens centralization and actually makes it even more political in nature.

Any new constitution should also assure that the police cannot fall under military chain of command, even under martial law or military coup.

Yep. The British and American structures, although different in themselves, both have local accountability.

Basic policing should focus on local communities.

Martial law, rightly or wrongly, when declared, tends to trump civilian law in most countries.

If the police were significantly reformed and kept away from crooked politicians, and more importantly really did their jobs, then there would not be much need for martial law.

[In the jungle]

"Needs of the public would be considered a priority,"

Needs of the public is the priority!

[selftaopath]

The Kingdom of Thailand and it's people could drastically benefit from an honest police force who's reason for being is to protect and serve.

[Suffinator]

The RTP is organising brainstorming sessions aimed at gathering feedback from police and the public throughout the country.

Brainstorming ... not a trait known to Thais as the only two things they can think of is A) themselves and; how to make easy money.

There's only one way to reform the RTP ... sack the lot and start from scratch. Before that's done the laws need changing so that issues such as sending officers to 'inactive posts' are no longer and option. Corruption should be dealt with by a minimum prison term of 15 years ... if they can do it for something as stupid as LM then they can do it for something that could make a real change and bring about the reforms they keep talking about.

Unfortunately nothing tangible will really happen but the entire system is corrupt from the top to the bottom - it's like asking a nest of rats not to eat the corn in the corn field.

[Chang_paarp]

A couple of radical ideas;

Merit / competency based promotion, with a peer reviewed appeal process. No external or internal interference.

Internal affairs officers / division (Independent) to handle corruption complaints with the power to investigate.

Real punishments for breaking the rules, dismissal / prison.

A nice start, a big dream.

[lucky11]

The military isnt a public servant here.... just saying

I disagree, this military government is serving the public admirably at the moment in sorting the political and national landscape out.

Making the politicians less influential is exactly what is needed as it will make it much more difficult for them to help themselves to corruption money, whereas instead, they can concentrate on doing what they are supposed to be doing, in serving the people - what they used to do before Thaksin gate crashed the party!!

Weakening the police force hierarchy will make them more accountable and make it fair regards promotions BTW of merit rather than through nepotism, favouritism or most seriously, with ulterior motives in mind (often illegal or criminal) by those dishing out the promotions. It is interesting that the lower police ranks are highly in favour of this change as it will promote honesty and give them a chance to EARN their promotions by meritorious means instead of having to pay large sums of money to their criminal bosses.

It cannot be right that a fugitive can own and control the police force and have his own private army (answerable to him) to serve his personal interests - which is precisely how it was under Shinawatra controlled governments!!!!