Thai police…starting to impress you as well?

[mogo51]

Did you get their job as the public relations 'misinformation officer'? Get off the drugs. They are still like poker machines, won;t work unless you put money in them!

[klauskunkel]

Anyone else out there think the Thai police deserve more respect than they receive?

RTP has decades of mistrust, malfeasance, crimes committed, crimes covered up, extortion, laziness, ineptitude, extra judicial killings, etc... to make up for.

To answer your question: No, they haven't even scratched the surface. It will take equally decades of spotless public service to have trust returned.

Edited June 9, 2016 by klauskunkel

[Familyonthemove]

I often watch the same Channel 7 reports as the OP - and what I see is the BIB making the odd arrest of some total loser - always the same profile - tattoos, under-nourished, red-eyed, hopeless addict who got caught doing a desperate crime in front of a dozen cctv cameras.

Never see them arresting some well-fed, Mercedes-driving, well-connected criminal or senior religious leaders wanted for alleged crimes against poor people or animals.

So my answer to the OP's question ........ nope.

[Shiver]

The street cops have been generally fair with me all along (sometimes I haven't liked what they've done, but it was me who was at fault each time). I have observed some less professional behaviour with other peoples issues(several years back), such as trumping up fines and asking for a bottle of whiskey - haven't seen anything like that in a long time though).

I'm still waiting on a result from their sleuth work of the multiple thefts of laptops and phones from the area I live in though. When a thief leaves his own phone in the home of the house they stole from (and their house key), and with notionally all still active phones now having an ID and address registered with them, I would like to think that they could solve this one before lunch time, but still waiting on all cases last time I asked (from 2 weeks to over 1 year is the duration they've had for different incidents of home theft). I mean using a smartphone with gloves or something to obscure your finger prints doesn't work the best does it?

[NoshowJones]

I would say that when they stop conning you into giving them tea money, ie motorbikes ending up on forbidden roads when there is no sign to

let them know until it is too late. The police know this and wait knowing motorbikes will soon be along.

Once that stops, also other sneaky ways they have, then maybe we can start getting impressed.

[NoshowJones]

Can we focus on the question of whether or not people have noticed that the police have become more efficient in tracking down criminals?

The BIB-good vs. BIB-bad debate has been done to death on past threads.

Many moons ago, Amnesty International (I think) and other human rights groups said at least 50% of people in Thailand's jails were innocent - they had been falsely arrested by the police who wanted "quick" results. Earlier this year, another report suggested as much as 63% (hmmm - that's a pretty precise figure????) of inmates were stitched up.

Gecko123, I think you might find some answers in those figures above. Not saying the cops can't catch a crim when they need to. It's just that few believe they do so out of a philosophical bent to protect and serve.

What about the judges who give their verdict, the case is finished, and then two weeks later tell the persons lawyer, "you are now not getting the verdict as I have changed my mind".

I can assure you this did happen, I was in that court, and saw it for myself. Maybe I'm a little bit off topic, but the judges, lawyers and police are all in the same system.

[cumgranosalum]

Can we focus on the question of whether or not people have noticed that the police have become more efficient in tracking down criminals?

The BIB-good vs. BIB-bad debate has been done to death on past threads.

Many moons ago, Amnesty International (I think) and other human rights groups said at least 50% of people in Thailand's jails were innocent - they had been falsely arrested by the police who wanted "quick" results. Earlier this year, another report suggested as much as 63% (hmmm - that's a pretty precise figure????) of inmates were stitched up.

Gecko123, I think you might find some answers in those figures above. Not saying the cops can't catch a crim when they need to. It's just that few believe they do so out of a philosophical bent to protect and serve.

aaah, but at least they're quick!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Anyone else out there think the Thai police deserve more respect than they receive?

They deserve LESS respect than they receive. And that's would be a pretty hard feat to accomplish.

[Monkeyrobot]

I thought catching criminals was the job.

[Briggsy]

To answer your question seriously, which I am not sure it deserves :-

The day an independent body is set up to investigate the crimes and abuse of power by the police,

The day the police here are overseen by independent civilian bodies,

The day crime reporters dare to print anything from any other source other than the official or off-the-cuff police statements,

The day senior police are not worth 8 figures in U.S. dollars.

then it may be possible to make a judgement over whether police corruption is any way becoming less prevalent.

Those basic conditions will not be met any time soon and I have no evidence to suggest it is [becoming less prevalent].

[D3030]

I've been following Thai crime beat news reports for a while now (mainly Channel 7, Sanook News and ThaiRath News.)

Lately, I've been impressed with the speed of some of the arrests which have been made. For example, they caught that 19 year old guy who stabbed an engineer during a motorcycle-jacking-gone-bad in Ladprao last week. After the attack, the guy just melted into a busy crowd. I thought to myself, how are they ever going to catch that guy? But they did. Less than a week later, they tracked him down, hiding out in the woods near his family home in Nakhon Ratchasima. I thought that was some pretty impressive police work.

Thai police do seem to be using CCTV footage, cell phone video, social media, anonymous tips, DNA, trace evidence, and fingerprints to solve crimes more effectively these days.

Anyone else out there think the Thai police deserve more respect than they receive?

Know your audience!

A Thai cop can save some of these farangs entire family.. And pet dog!

And tbey will bitch about it.

[smotherb]

Too much corruption as seen just yesterday with the massage parlour raid and this the headlines we see nearly everyday.

I'm familiar with this case. Police receive tip that prostitution is being conducted in a massage parlor and raid it. Where's the corruption you alluded to?

The chief of police at that district and his top lieutenants were transferred to desk jobs at headquarters--supposedly their names were found in the parlor books. Or am I just spreading rumors?

[hdkane]

Are you serious? A few arrests to pacify the media is not a genuine change. I'll be impressed or at least hopeful when the police do the many simple things that any decent human would do...

for example...is it too much to expect the police not to benefit from child porn or the trafficking of children? Every DVD vender sells kiddie porn under the table...and so many kids that sell flowers and beg are simply bought in Myanmar and bought here...the police know this, and condone it...for just a few baht here and there...

in the local police station where I used to live, Lad Phrao, I observed someone pay 5000 baht to an officer, in front of OTHER officers, to alter a police report...the guy had an employee who got drunk and hit someone, sending the victim to the hospital where he died...a 5000 baht payment revised the report to indicate that the victim was drunk, not the culpable driver...pathetic...

where I am now, they regularly set up check points to shake down students, and spend the afternoon gathering the phone numbers of the females...

I'm not being hyperbolic in stating that I would rather have a kid work in the sex industry than to be a police officer...because the police here abuse their power...and I detest bullies...

it truly bewilders me why these Thai men waste their bullets on trivial arguments when they could revolt and actually change society...

[sanukjim]

Too much corruption as seen just yesterday with the massage parlour raid and this the headlines we see nearly everyday.

I'm familiar with this case. Police receive tip that prostitution is being conducted in a massage parlor and raid it. Where's the corruption you alluded to?

The large raids on night clubs,and this massage parlor raid are mostly ordered by the Army and carried out under their orders.The police are collecting a large amount of money from these establishments. Notice that when they raid (as ordered by the Army) very large casinos nobody is there as the players are given notice in advance because this is a very,very ,very large part of the police income. No not proud,just laughing at them trying to explane why they are raiding the HIGER UPS income house. LOL 5555

Edited June 9, 2016 by sanukjim

[Dumbastheycome]

I agree with the op to the extent that there seems to be a more general active attempt to be Police ( in the public eye) at least. Of course to expect a completely new face is unrealistic and the inherent sytem that historically literally compelled corruption is not something that can be ridded quickly or easily. Overthe last 2 years I have noted that people in general are now less derogatory about the local police and the Police themselves are generally displaying a more "professional" approach to people in contrast to the previous arrogance.

Thailand is not unique in having historically corrupt police. However slowly it can re-establish itself as a more respectable service is welcome.

[Roomuck]

Ask Thai people what they think about the police.

90%+ hate them.

In Australia the police arrest thieves, in Thailand they are the thieves.

But I sort of agree they are not too bad at catching crims if they want too. But they don't have to play buy the rules that cops in other countries do. Torture is acceptable, planting evidence and blatant lies also.

Real crims in Oz generally are not give ups because they are scared of other crims more than the police. Not so much here. The cops here are good at working up the chain, but not all the way to the top.

Eg. a drug user gets caught here with a couple of yaba pills, he gives up his small time dealer, who then gives up his mid level dealer, but that is where it often ends.

In Australia if arrested you just can, and should, repeat " no comment" over and over again and the cops can do nothing about it. Not sure how that would go down here.

[oldlakey]

Hello Gecko

If you really need somebody to talk to you can talk to me because I am pretty much out of touch as well

[Khon Kaen Dave]

Mmmmm,NO...Whats that love? no babe nothing important......

[sead]

Can't see any difference between police or toilet cleaner. Both do shit.

[Dap]

How can I be impressed with the results of anyone

who needs to be forced to do their job?

[seancbk]

All of my interactions with the Thai Police have been good.

A few years back a friend was murdered by his ex-wife's mother-in-law and the police apprehended her, the ex-wife and her brother very quickly.

I understand that most people only interact with traffic or street police, and at the lower levels they are annoying but go further up the chain and they are effective, professional and reliable.

[pbeieio]

I am sure that you can find one "good apple" in the barrel, if you look hard enough!

[Saastrajaa]

Yawn. So typical of so many Thaivisa topics. OP posts something controversial or outrageous in order to get a rise out of others (cough--cough--troll!). Then when the OP gets EXACTLY the argumentative, dismissive responses he was looking for in the first place, he gets all passive aggressive and acts incredulous.

[ableguy]

I was going to comment on this but decided it could not benefit my health, enough said. .

[Brer Fox]

They caught the Erawan Shrine bomber. No points for that?

But the police gave themselves a handsome reward that the same police themselves had offered for the capture of the suspects. Suspects should not to be confused with people who are not as yet proven guilty. Up to a point!

[Brer Fox]

I was going to comment on this but decided it could not benefit my health, enough said. .

You must live near Thonglor.

[mesterm]

Even in today's news a cop tries to get fines paid into his personal bank account.

[lensta]

Um, No!

[benalibina]

All of my interactions with the Thai Police have been good.

A few years back a friend was murdered by his ex-wife's mother-in-law and the police apprehended her, the ex-wife and her brother very quickly.

I understand that most people only interact with traffic or street police, and at the lower levels they are annoying but go further up the chain and they are effective, professional and reliable.

What an arrogant and ignorant comment....you do know that Thailand is a strictly hierarchical society, as is the RTP, don't you ?

However, maybe you mean with...effective, professional and reliable...filling their own pockets.

[katana]

The Thai police can be quite quick and effective in catching someone unless the perpetrator happens to be hi-so, rich or a politician etc in which case things will invariably go quiet.