Why it's not easy being a Thai police officer

[Chang_paarp]

Got to say i would rather pay 200b bribe,then drive all the way to a police station,pay the fine and then find my way back to retrieve my licence.

Because it is more convenient for you does not mean it is right.

It is still corruption.

The taking of the license is in itself an extortion. The officer should be able to write out the paperwork on the spot and issue the "offender" with a ticket thus giving a paper trail for disputing the offense if the accused so desires. The paperwork would also allow the accused to pay the fine remotely, not having to go to the particular station, but that would reduce the income for the station.

[klauskunkel]

Why it's not easy being a Thai police officer

By Maxmilian Wechsler

© Big Chilli 2016-04-12

Yup, not easy at all. Must be at least as difficult as being a writer for Big Chilli...

[JAG]

Got to say i would rather pay 200b bribe,then drive all the way to a police station,pay the fine and then find my way back to retrieve my licence.

If the ThB200 option was not available then the rigmarole which you describe would act as a significant deterrent to committing the offense.

[soalbundy]

Whoever wrote that crap should be ashamed to call themselves a journalist.

Maximilian Wechsler, a German name, looks like his Visa is up for renewal, a little stroking cant hurt.

[canuckamuck]

Got to say i would rather pay 200b bribe,then drive all the way to a police station,pay the fine and then find my way back to retrieve my licence.

I agree with you on that, except half of the time you did not commit an offence so it is a car jacking and not enforcement.

And I would much prefer to pay the ticket by mail either way.

[thesetat2013]

But anyone who takes the time to sit down and talk to some of them soon realizes this is unfair.

No other government agency has to contend with anything like the barrage of negative press that descends on the police on an almost daily basis. We are constantly reminded of bribe-taking by police, but it’s worth remembering that for the average cop this amounts to small sums from motorists in lieu of a traffic ticket.

Why is this unfair? He is openly admitting that corruption is rampant if only on the highways which everyone knows is B.S.

Corruption is corruption! it doesnt matter if it is on a small scale or a large scale. It is still breaking the law by people who are supposed to uphold the law and set an example for the public.

His justification! Unbelievably Thai, Blaming it on others and trying to use others for their own corruption. These are police officers, They should be the people making cases against those big corporations for their part in the corruption.... Instead they are most likely demanding their share. This guy actually has some power in the police force and it just goes to justify what and why the world is constantly criticizing them for.

[Jimbo2014]

So the argument is... corruption is ok in the police force because other people do it? Sorry this article has lost me. Those 'small sums' for traffic infringement are a main reason the road toll in this country is one of the highest per capita in the world. The absence of rule of law is a main reason for the outrageous level of scams, crimes, murders and rapes. The quota system of payment required monthly to the top levels cripple any chance of a proper law and legal system in the country. What a ridiculous article. Rather than say its all ok and bleeding hearts - lets focus on what might fix the problems. Downsize the police force, make it more professional, create hard core independent bodies for inquiry, have police, politicians, judges and other public servants means tested every few years. Study New Yorks example from the 80s, 90s. Do something but dont say its ok!!

[masuk]

" A Policeman's lot....." well done and good to see some G & S here.

A serious question: Who decides what the law is here? There seems to be two totally conflicting statements regarding alcohol tests following an accident/fatality.

1) the test can be declined/deferred (totally amazing!)

2) a blood test is compulsory. Breathalyser on the spot; if positive, a blood sample is taken by a doctor at the police station within the hour.

Possible answer (1) depends on status.

[Lupatria]

First thing that came to mind reading this crap: how many of Mr. Wechsler's traffic offense tickets vanished in the air in return for this lousy PR attempt? Maybe the guy should remember the meaning of his name and CHANGE to the real world.

[Bangkok Barry]

A friend has his house broken into while he was out, and they not only took his tv and computer etc, but his SUV as they found the keys for that too. This was in a gated community, where by a very strange coincidence the security guard vanished at the same time as the robbery. The police refused to investigate unless my friend paid them 100,000 baht.

A couple of hundred years or so ago we had highwaymen where I come from, the UK, where they would stop you in your vehicle (horse-drawn coach) and demand money. It still goes in Thailand, all these years later. No difference at all.

[FarangLife]

Policemen are still the ones we all turn to when robbed or assaulted. Why be so hard on them? We aren't in UK. Why expect the same type of police? The culture here is based on negotiating everything, at least they are there, doing the work of rescuing and investigating. Negotiate for your license back too, if you didn't do anything wrong to be stopped, don't pay, take the long route. Would we really be better off without them? I think the writer was just trying to put things into perspective; they work long hours, recieve much criticism, and pay out of pocket for things to allow them to do their jobs. Just be nice for a change people!

[chainarong]

Certainly in Thailand it is not all the police officer's fault , it is the system , and until the Government pulls the proverbial finger out and address the underlying problems nothing will get done ,the cost to the economy by having a substandard police force is astronomical , same as the present substandard government is doing to the economy , poor standards of education levels , poor wages , no insurance , poor housing , poor administration buildings , poor police policies, substandard equipment, Low police entry level, put all theses into one mixture and the cream on the cake turns sour...................................... .

[Linden]

Just like all asia if you pay for your job or position you have to recover your money investment back out of the job

Government positions are the ssame.

Until things change Pay Peanuts Get Monkeys.

Give them perks and assistance housing schooling medical care low finance deals

Then remove the perks if they get any involvement in bribery or corruption

As it stands they have nothing to loose being corrupt..

[tigermoth]

Stupid article. Sure there are honest cops but they know if they speak up they are doomed. There is a definite level of corruption such as the local cop taking small bribes for traffic violations and the top cops who make millions from the weekly or monthly extortion of small business starting at 20,000 up to 100,000 and more collected by the small cops who work for the top cops either willingly or unwillingly, (now the army is taking a slice of the action). Talk to any bar owner or manager. It would be interesting to see figures published on how many cops or public officials own bars which are never harassed. It doesn't matter how small the bribe is it is against the law. Of course it happensa in all western countries too but not at the small level such as bribing traffic cops. One can get anything one wants here bt paying for it. But farangs be careful.

[Somtamnication]

These are not cops, they are overpaid boy scouts with no patches to place on their saches.

20 years ago I worked with them in Chiang Mai and it was the most frustrating experience of my life, second only to Mexican "cops".

[Robm579]

He looks so serious and straight faced

The article sounds genuine too

Is this a Thai time April fool...

You can't buy respect ... It has to be earned...

It ain't going to happen in my lifetime ... And probably never here....

But if you give me 1000 bht ... I could turn a blind eye.....

[Jiggo]

This post is about the Thai Police or Dogey Dave.....oh yer

[snowgard]

A friend has his house broken into while he was out, and they not only took his tv and computer etc, but his SUV as they found the keys for that too. This was in a gated community, where by a very strange coincidence the security guard vanished at the same time as the robbery. The police refused to investigate unless my friend paid them 100,000 baht.

A couple of hundred years or so ago we had highwaymen where I come from, the UK, where they would stop you in your vehicle (horse-drawn coach) and demand money. It still goes in Thailand, all these years later. No difference at all.

Sorry to say but your friend must be a complete idiot!!! A easy visit with a reporter at the policestation had done it too!!!

I come now over 25 years to Thailand and live the last 8 years here. Drive a car and a motorbike and NEVER paid a ticket!!!

How this can be? I mean almost everyone here tell a lot of stories about the criminal, corrupt police. Nut I never ever had a problem.

I never been asked for teamoney.

But I saw here a lot of stupid farangs who don't accept the rules here, drive without helmet, no driving license, drunken, ... who are crying here that the police stopped they and charged a fine. Be happy that I am not the policeman who stopped you.

I would charge you the highest level for every rule breaking!!! Let you walk to find or buy a helmet without your bike, no driving license would bring you to the police station, identy check and a nice court date and so on ..!!!

Same you know it from your glory home country!!! I think you all miss it!!!

[Moti24]

"it turns out they work long hours doing a difficult job in dangerous circumstances for scant reward. All they want is a little appreciation from the public"

I sympathise with the BiB. Yes, "they work long hours doing a difficult job in dangerous circumstances for scant reward", but accepting a bribe in lieu of a 400 Baht ticket is not the way to get, "a little appreciation from the public". If they really want some appreciation, they should be upholding the law, as no doubt they swore to do when they joined; that in turn would make Thailand a safer place for everybody.

"And often it is the motorists who are most eager to make a cash deal on the spot to avoid the inconvenience of having their driving license confiscated and going to the police station to pay a fine"

Of course it's the motorists who don't want to be inconvenienced! So long as they can avoid the consequences of their blatant infringements of the law, they will never learn.

Sorry BiB, on the occasions that you are ridiculed for not doing your job, well, you bring it on yourselves. Make us all proud of you and start afresh. Treat all Thai citizens and foreigners fairly and as equals, but within the law that you have sworn to uphold. Eventually, you will see plenty appreciation from the public.

[Varangkul]

All these suggested ways for improvement! Utopia! You wont find it in Thailand!

[momtaz]

High quality soap journalism from a well established media empire that you may have heard of, Big Chilli.

Haha.. well done !!

[Doc46]

What a load of shit ,,,you say ,,,, they take only a small sums in lieu of traffic tickets,,,,, just for starters ,,,,Corruption is Corruption NO matter the scale or Size,,You just making excuses for the BAD cops ,that makes them all look BAD

[BSJ]

After due consideration, about 2 seconds worth, I have come to the conclusion...

[SABloke]

"But anyone who takes the time to sit down and talk to some of them soon realizes this is unfair."

A brilliant fiction with a smattering of truth, quite a masterpiece.

My brother in-law is a reasonably high ranking cop and I have "taken the time and sat down and talked" with him and the simple fact is they are all corrupt...

There are levels of the corruption though, eg; the traffic stop 200 baht scam, the drugs found in your pocket or car 30,000 baht scam, or the brown envelopes for selected businesses paid each month to keep the doors open and their Lao/Burmese workers employed at slave wages and onwards and upwards.

Now there are actually cops that do not do the traffic 200 baht scam etc,etc, and are not active in the taking of tea money but they don't report it either which in itself is complicate in the corruption.

Also every cop know the wages of speaking out against his fellow partners in crime, which starts with transfer followed by trumped up criminal charges then family harassment and finally they will wake up dead.

Perfect example , The Thai cops that is currently in Australia requesting Asylum due to his reporting on the human trafficking that is reported as almost cleaned up and finished.

So yeah the reputation of the BIB is well and truly deserved and no amount of apologist's can cover it up.

Every station should have at least 2 separate and undercover internal affairs cops investigating and reporting on corruption for Thailand to have any chance of being some what cleaned up.

I agree with everything you wrote right up to the last line: the root cause of the corruption problem in the RTP is too deep to be resolved without a complete top-to-bottom restructure of the entire RTP.

The primary problem of the RTP, the primary cause of its endemic corruption, lies with its structure. The RTP is a state agency with a juristic person status under the prime minister’s command. The agency is divided into central and regional offices, all of which are under the responsibility of a single commander-in-chief, the Commissioner-General. The chain of command descends downwards to the police station level. The organisational structure is centralised, with a 230,000-strong force nationwide.

This organisational structure brings with it several problems, most of which contribute to corruption. The first problem, as mentioned is the salary scale for police officers, which is very low compared with that of their foreign counterparts and even with the salaries paid to officials in similar Thai organisations such as the Department of Special Investigation, court prosecutors, or other officials involved in the criminal justice process. RTP officers holding a bachelor’s degree or better receiving an initial salary of only 8,340 baht (260 USD), compared with 17,560 baht (548 USD) earned by justice officials. Moreover, the entry-level salary of police officers with a sub-bachelor education is a mere 6,800 baht (212 USD). It's no wonder most police resort to petty corruption, coercing bribes from the public or extorting money from traffic law violators, in order to make ends meet.

Part of the stated reason why the average salary of Thai policemen is so low is the sheer size of personnel at 230,000, making it difficult to initiate a wholesale pay rise to ensure all earn enough to meet rising living expenses. For example, if all policemen in the agency were to receive a 5,000 baht increase in monthly salary, the government would have to pay an additional 15 billion baht (420 million USD) annually. Of course if they sacked every one of the tens-of-thousands (140,000?) of officers sitting in 'inactive posts' that figure could be cut significantly.

Another problem with the centralised structure of the police force is that high-level officials in the central office can appoint officers at the regional level. Moreover, since there are more officers at the commissioned level than at lower levels, with the former being granted power to hire or fire the latter, the reasons for promotions or demotions are unrelated to work performance, but rather to the personal relationships of officers with higher-ranking officials. In addition, since the Royal Thai Police changed its name from the Police Department and came under the control Prime Minister’s Office in 2004, politicians have become much more involved in the appointment process of policemen.

The worst problem of all is the conspicuous purchase of positions within the agency, as mentioned above, with the asking price for each position being revealed openly. Once those who bought their way up start working in their new positions, they will undergo a ‘payback’ period during which they extract bribes and protection money from illegal business operators to make up for the money ‘invested’ in buying their higher positions.

Structural reform of the Royal Thai Police toward a more decentralised system would not only cut the line of command and reduce widespread corruption among officers, but would allow for recruitment and postings to be awarded on merit, not based on nepotism. Such reform will be able to alleviate corruption problems since they are inextricably linked to a centralised police system that results in high-level officers having too much power. The unfortunate consequences of this are embezzlement of government funds, since the funds are allocated to a single agency; bribery from citizens at a high frequency and amounts, since the bribes are passed up to higher-ranked officials along the chain of command; and collection of protection money, which is also passed up the chain of command, from illegal business operators.

The distribution or separation of police power would be effective in partially severing the chain of command that in turn can discourage the passing of bribes. It would also reduce the power of high-level officials, making them unable to intervene in the appointment process of lower-ranked policemen, which in turn can prevent the purchases of positions that are one of the causes of bribery and protection money collection. Most importantly, the decentralisation of police power or the downsizing of the agency would result in a general increase in police salaries, weakening the oft-mentioned reason for corruption.

Even though such reform would change Royal Thai Police for the better, the agency still lacks commanders willing to sacrifice their personal benefits for the greater good.

The excuse about why a salary increase is not possible is always amusing to me: On my way to work I normally see about 30 turning violations (which I believe is 1000 Baht fine) I also see about the same in running red lights (2000 Baht fine). So in my daily 30min commute I spot about 100 000 Baht. I'm sure the police could realistically collect 5 million a day if the were bothered and could then increase salaries by 10000 Baht a month.

BUT, big big BUT: A salary increase won't change anything. Ask yourselves WHY a person with a Bachelor's degree would take such a low paying job? Because they want a part of the action i.e they are morally corrupt people to start with so giving them an increase will just be an additional bonus. Honestly I think if you fired all 200 000 and hired 50 000 at a salary of 40 000 Baht + we might actually start seeing an effective police force.

[Khun Paul]

Being ex-police myself, and although I can see where the writer is coming from, the ills of this country have to dealt with from the top down or the bottom up.

If police officers never took small sums mentioned but made all offenders pay the correct fine and dealt withy them expeditiously then slowly the Police would have the vast majority applaud them, they could have their pay increased because you would not need so many as 75% foi the public would adhere to the law.

Then the Police could concentrate on dealing with all those aspects that tarnish their name, Casinos, Brothels, bars, in fact anything in which it is felt is slightly illegal and put a stop to that from the Mafia down to the lowly loan shark.

Then this country would start to reap what it sows increased tourism, safer streets, better people generally, even the Hi-sos would have to toe the line , no special cases anymore .

Then maybe Thailand can claw its way out the pit it is slipping even deeper into judging by the news and the police themselves could then hold up their heads and be praised for doing a job they are supposed to do. Not the one they are currently doing.

[Baerboxer]

While your average Officer Somchai may be a decent, hardworking person, there is little doubt that, alongside the RTA, the RTP is one of the largest criminal organisations in the nation. One only need to look at the vast levels of unusual wealth in the upper ranks (a snippet of this can be seen in the declared assets of the 11 RTP officers handpicked to form the NLA), and the the conspicuous purchase of positions within the agency, with the asking price for each position being revealed openly.

Thailand will never be a safe country, it will never reduce the horrific road toll, nor ever attain status of developed nation unless a complete top-to-bottom restructure of the RTP is undertaken, decentralising its command structure, and transferring its reporting to the Ministry of Justice, recruiting overseas advisors/trainers, imposing strict ethical guidelines, sacking every single one of the tens of thousands (140,000?) of criminals currently sitting in inactive posts, and providing a living wage to officers.

Don't disagree but would add that the whole justice system needs restructuring and reforming. Laws need to be clear not deliberately vague so individuals can interpret them however they want. The law needs to be enforced and transgressors treated impartially and equally. This requires police, lawyers, prosecutors and judges to all act without favor and apply the law evenly to all.

The rich have enjoyed the ability to manipulate the law how they want for a long long time. That breeds and feeds corruption. Only when that stops can things move forward.

Look at the cases kicking around at the moment that have simply stalled - the killer underage driver not bothering to do her community service in compliance with probation office rules; the ex MP / Copper whose passenger allegedly died in a minor traffic accident just after fraudulent share transfers were made. Despite all the hype that experts were being consulted, and the share documents seemed forged, and the guys wife died in similar circumstances and pressure applied by the victims rich family the case has disappeared; the speeding Merc driver who killed two after crashing through a toll barrier and then refused blood tests; the infamous Red Bull cop killer case; the American-Chinese thugs who viciously assaulted and deformed a young Aussie (the PM even promised justice here) etc etc etc etc.

Cases involving the rich a simply seen as gravy trains for those involved in the legal process - regardless of the crime.

Until that changes, and the mentality that "it can't be changed" changes, forget police reforms. Simply won't happen.

[colinneil]

Thai men borrow large sums of money to pay the bribe to get a police job.

The higher the rank the more money they have to pay to get promotion.

Top ranking police officers pay 5 million baht or more to get a promotion.

So big boss tells underlings get out and get money to help him pay off his debts.

[jamesbrock]

Part of the stated reason why the average salary of Thai policemen is so low is the sheer size of personnel at 230,000, making it difficult to initiate a wholesale pay rise to ensure all earn enough to meet rising living expenses. For example, if all policemen in the agency were to receive a 5,000 baht increase in monthly salary, the government would have to pay an additional 15 billion baht (420 million USD) annually. Of course if they sacked every one of the tens-of-thousands (140,000?) of officers sitting in 'inactive posts' that figure could be cut significantly.

The excuse about why a salary increase is not possible is always amusing to me: On my way to work I normally see about 30 turning violations (which I believe is 1000 Baht fine) I also see about the same in running red lights (2000 Baht fine). So in my daily 30min commute I spot about 100 000 Baht. I'm sure the police could realistically collect 5 million a day if the were bothered and could then increase salaries by 10000 Baht a month.

BUT, big big BUT: A salary increase won't change anything. Ask yourselves WHY a person with a Bachelor's degree would take such a low paying job? Because they want a part of the action i.e they are morally corrupt people to start with so giving them an increase will just be an additional bonus. Honestly I think if you fired all 200 000 and hired 50 000 at a salary of 40 000 Baht + we might actually start seeing an effective police force.

I see your point, but they'd have collect 41 million baht a day just to afford the pay rise.

I do like your second suggestion though. As I wrote yesterday, if, out of a force of around 230,000 officers, they can only scrounge up 90,000—less than 40 percent of the force—to ensure safety for one of the most dangerous periods of the year - how many of the superfluous 140,000 officers would they actually miss? The savings there would be immense!

Of course a pay rise would be for nought unless they could eliminate the so-called ‘Harsh organisational value’ of the RTP, i.e., the tacit attitude among police officers toward misconduct, fraud and collection of protection money. Because of this harsh value, not only do lower level officers see this behaviour as normal, they admire those senior officers who amass fortunes from illegal conduct. Your second suggestion—alongside a complete structural reform—would all but eliminate this cancer.

[bangon04]

Whoever wrote that crap should be ashamed to call themselves a journalist.

"While Thai-language newspapers, television, magazines and websites are somewhat more balanced"....

but he has a sense of humour. Just ask any educated taxpaying Thai.

[elgordo38]

"Why it's not easy to be a police officer" Episode 1 ( stay tuned)

Which is which in this photo??