Police house search

[watcharacters]

I recently invited a falang I don't know well to my house to play chess. He's a volunteer policeman and a nice fellow. After we finished playing we spoke a bit about his job. I had no idea really what a volunteer policeman does in thailand. He explained he assists with foreigner issues with the police if there is a matter of the law involved. I asked him if he is also involved if there is an arrest. He said he was and even mentioned a recent incident where he joined the police in a drug dragnet in a moban out the city limits.

He say the police basically surrounded a moban and knocked on doors telling the residents to come outside and kneel on the pavement. They then searched the house looking for drugs or anything illegal.

I found all this pretty shocking and told him I would have a serious issue with police doing anything such as that without some documentation. i.g. a search warrant. He said under such circumstances the police don't need a warrant..

Is this really something that happens in Thailand?

[CharlieH]

Doesnt really matter what the law does or doesnt say, are you really going to argue or resist an armed Police Officer in a foreign country ? Highly unlikely.

Given the inconsistencies in so many aspects of Thai regulations etc, what matters is who and how you deal with that individual Officer at that specific time in that specific place, because any other time any other person any other place, could and probably will, be totally different.

[steven100]

In any country .... if a house is considered a drug haven or suspected of manufacturing or possessing illegal substances the police will come knocking.

Can be Thailand or France or Australia.

[autanic]

I do not want sound like an A---hole, but I really do think this is a case of nothing to hide, nothing to fear.

Would I want jackboots marching over my house looking for non-existant evidence. .. . . Hell No

Am I going to resist ? Hell No

You aint in Kansas no more Dorothy.

[fey]

the types of rights you are referring to don't exist as much in third world countries.
that's the big trade off, you have more freedom under the radar, but less when things get sticky.

[NickJ]

Maybe there were warrants and your friend was unaware of them. Or then again, maybe there was a Judge waiting to sign one after they found anything. I agree that it would be stupid to argue at that point.....

[MisterTee]

the types of rights you are referring to don't exist as much in third world countries.

that's the big trade off, you have more freedom under the radar, but less when things get sticky.

Good point.

Much more freedom here under the radar.

Just keep a low profile and mind your own business. You'll get along fine.

[autanic]

Picture this.

Your on you knees with your arms behind your back. Several Policeman are searching your home looking for drugs.

Are you really go to start mouthing off about your rights of search.

hey the best of luck with that, don't forget to pick your teeth off the floor, before setting your broken jaw.

[NanLaew]

And the OP would be able to tell the difference between an official Thai search warrant and (for example) a letter approving overtime pay for the cop? Both will have dates he can't read and lots of official signatures and impressive stamps.

If the OP really needs the definitive answer on this, he can always call his Embassy.

[chrisinth]

In any country .... if a house is considered a drug haven or suspected of manufacturing or possessing illegal substances the police will come knocking.

Can be Thailand or France or Australia.

In most normal countries, not without a search warrant. Otherwise their case will fall apart due to illegal entry.

[guzzi850m2]

A Sottish friend of mine lives waaay out in the sticks in the north east were visited by 2 police men demanding a drug test of him and his wife.

They knew one of the Bib's is a nasty bit of kit and agreed on a drug test outside the house and that was done and they were both found negative for drugs.

Needless to say that nothing was offered to the Bib's, no water or anything else and when done, my friend & wife went inside the house, slamming the door firmly shut behind them.

Letting them in if they come and standing at the gate all depends; are they angry or polite? Haven't heard about unwanted visits from the police here in Pattaya

[Ace of Pop]

They enter your Wife's House ,you own FA here fortunately.[emoji379][emoji481]

[KhunBENQ]

The following matches what I was assuming (I am not a jurist nor can I rate the credibility of the source).

http://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-law-library/legal_library/warrant_of_arrest_in_thailand.php

Police may conduct searches and seizures without a warrant when he has reasonable grounds to believe that the suspect has in his possession:

1. Articles that may be used to commit a crime;
2. The fruits of a crime;
3. Illegal items (like illegal substances).

AND: also in countries with rule of law there is a situation of "imminent danger" where police can search without a warrant.

If you come down from Laos or Myanmar and think they may not search your car/belongings then you are plain naive.

[donsonny]

Surely not enough to just wade into people's homes on suspicion alone and certainly not without search warrant. But again this is Thailand and anything is possible. Police and other agencies can act like wild monkeys and do whatever suits them. Who will stop them?

[Don Mega]

They enter your Wife's House ,you own FA here fortunately.[emoji379][emoji481]

Why could it not be his house ?

[steven100]

In any country .... if a house is considered a drug haven or suspected of manufacturing or possessing illegal substances the police will come knocking.

Can be Thailand or France or Australia.

In most normal countries, not without a search warrant. Otherwise their case will fall apart due to illegal entry.

and you don't think they will put together a search warrant a couple of days later ? all they need is a signature ....

[willyumiii]

When you move to Thailand from a western country.....

Your "rights" do not fit into your suitcase.

You can't bring them with you.

[BudRight]

I do not want sound like an A---hole...

You failed.

[BudRight]

When you move to Thailand from a western country.....

Your "rights" do not fit into your suitcase.

You can't bring them with you.

Some people think that human rights are Universal. That really is the point isn't it?

[cyberfarang]

Sure I read somewhere that the Farlang police have no powers of arrest and it must always be the Thai police that make the arrests. If there are no Thai police at a scene and a Farlang police volunteer sees a crime going on, he still cannot apprehend or arrest. That`s what I read, true or not? Don`t know.

[thaibeachlovers]

It angers me that a farang thinks he has any right to be involved in anything involving Thais. They are there to assist FARANGS in the event of trouble, but some of them think the uniform makes them into a real cop. I won't say what I really think of them, but you can guess, I'm sure.

[thaibeachlovers]

Sure I read somewhere that the Farlang police have no powers of arrest and it must always be the Thai police that make the arrests. If there are no Thai police at a scene and a Farlang police volunteer sees a crime going on, he still cannot apprehend or arrest. That`s what I read, true or not? Don`t know.

They are NOT cops and have no right to be involved in any POLICE activity. Supposed just to help farangs with problems.

[thaibeachlovers]

When you move to Thailand from a western country.....

Your "rights" do not fit into your suitcase.

You can't bring them with you.

Some people think that human rights are Universal. That really is the point isn't it?

Some people are demented too. Sometimes they get a wake up call.

[geronimo]

They enter your Wife's House ,you own FA here fortunately.[emoji379][emoji481]

Why could it not be his house ?

It could be, but not the land it sits on.

[maoro2013]

In any country .... if a house is considered a drug haven or suspected of manufacturing or possessing illegal substances the police will come knocking.

Can be Thailand or France or Australia.

Not without a search warrant. A search warrant can be obtained quickly and easily in Australia. They can be approved by a JP (Qual) or others further up the judicial chain. Also warrants are restricted to certain hours.

A house might get searched without a warrant outside the specified hours, but this would need to be with the cooperation of the householder or there may be some special circumstances that allow the police to trespass eg terrorism. Police can also enter upon a property to arrest a drunk driver, but this does not amount to a house search.

If police are on a property, uninvited it amounts to trespass.

[Sealbash]

In any country .... if a house is considered a drug haven or suspected of manufacturing or possessing illegal substances the police will come knocking.

Can be Thailand or France or Australia.

Not without a search warrant. A search warrant can be obtained quickly and easily in Australia. They can be approved by a JP (Qual) or others further up the judicial chain. Also warrants are restricted to certain hours.

A house might get searched without a warrant outside the specified hours, but this would need to be with the cooperation of the householder or there may be some special circumstances that allow the police to trespass eg terrorism. Police can also enter upon a property to arrest a drunk driver, but this does not amount to a house search.

If police are on a property, uninvited it amounts to trespass.

I am not convinced all countries have identical search and seizure laws.

[buythisdashcam]

Just pay for your business the right lawyer who is friend with the top cops as I do and with a phone call they will know who has to knee.

[asdecas]

If your surname is na Ayutthaya then stand on your rights. Otherwise, kneel paysan.

[kannot]

the types of rights you are referring to don't exist as much in third world countries.

that's the big trade off, you have more freedom under the radar, but less when things get sticky.

Good point.

Much more freedom here under the radar.

Just keep a low profile and mind your own business. You'll get along fine.

Which would be ok if the Thais would mind theirs BUT they are nosy busy bodies making up stories out in the villages, i reckon they have nothing else to do all day

[moonray]

You do not like here in LOS?

google "Felicia Djamirze"

FirstWorld country - Australia