Japan police model cited: Reform of Thai force is focus of seminar

[webfact]

Japan police model cited

By THE NATION

 

File photo

 

Reform of Thai force is focus of seminar

BANGKOK: -- UNLIKE THEIR Thai counterparts, Japanese police have a good image. Japanese people find their country’s police force to be reliable and believe that they can count on the police if any problem arises, participants at a recent seminar in Bangkok were told.

 

“Japan ranks among the countries in the world where police enjoy public acceptance,” Sanya Dharmasakti Institute for Democracy’s director Asst Professor Dr Wasan Luangprapat said at the seminar. 

 

His institute, which is under Thammasat University, organised the seminar to explore the Japanese model in light of moves to reform the Thai police force. 

 

Wasan said that Japan reformed its force in 1952, and it now has two levels of police. One is the National Police Agency, which oversees policies, systems, regulations, statistics, fingerprint collection, budgeting, and coordination between police units.

 

The other is prefecture police, whose main duties are to investigate crimes, uphold public order, manage traffic flow, and issue licences to entertainment venues. The prefecture police are under the supervision of prefecture public safety commissions.

 

Keisuke Hosaka, first secretary and police senior liaison officer of the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, told the seminar that, with this structure, Japan’s central police agency was clearly separate from prefecture police. 

 

“The National Police Agency will not be able to directly give orders to prefecture police. So, there is no interference,” he said. Hosaka said prefecture police, as a result, were neutral and free from any political interference. 

 

He said policemen and women in prefecture police forces are rarely transferred and usually work in the same prefecture until they retire. 

 

“The strengths of Japanese police lie with their cooperation with communities and volunteers. There are police booths in every zone. If any crime arises, police act fast in both small and big cases,” Hosaka said. 

 

He added that Japanese police also investigated crimes very thoroughly before making arrests. 

 

“Japanese police will take it as a failure if the cases they pursue are rejected by public prosecutors,” he said. 

 

Hosaka said that Japanese police officers’ average salaries were about 10 per cent higher than government officials at the same level.

 

“Such pay reduces the risk of corruption,” he noted.

 

Pol General Vasit Dejkunjorn, a former director general of the Royal Thai Police, said the Thai police force was still centralised in nature, with the national police chief having the power to handle anything from budgets to transfers.

 

“It is necessary that police reforms are urgently done in Thailand,” he said. 

 

Vasit said he hoped that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha would invoke his special powers as the National Council for Peace and Order chief under Article 44 of the Interim Constitution to expedite police reform. 

 

“I am worried that the new government may not agree to follow through with police reform if it is not finished during the tenure of this government,” he said.

 

Pol Lt-Colonel Krisanaphong Poothakool, who heads Rangsit University’s criminology and justice administration, said the upcoming reform should ensure the police force is shielded from political interference. 

 

“The National Police Office, moreover, should be equipped with modern equipment and a budget to improve police systems,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30323346

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-10

[Somtamnication]

American police trained them after WW2 and along with their very  unique culture, created a formidable and polite force.

 

It will take Thailand 70 years to be what the Japanese police have become. Good luck. 

[Thian]

Me and my wife met a group of german policemen in a hotel...ohhhh that's we need in Thailand she said....

 

Young, strong, trained, armed, goodlooking policemen and they even carried their full toolbelt with gun at the breakfast buffet at 6 am.

 

I agree, compared to the Thai policemen the German police looks so pro....

[BasalBanality]

The Japanese Police is rather similar to the current Thai police, I doubt the underlying culture of incompetence will be any difference.

[Cadbury]

I don't know anything about the Japanese police force to allow a comparison. But from what I read and see here in Thailand the Thai police officers on the ground floor seem primarily to be collectors of money which is then distributed to the top floor through the chain of command.

I would be surprised if the Japanese force operate in a similar way.

[colinneil]

How is anyone going to reform the police?

It is an impossible task, someone who gets more money in bribes than their salary, is going to change over night , no way.

The junior cop is sent out to get money, then has to pass a very large portion of it higher up the chain., it is impossible to stop,

When you have a such a corrupt set up like that, scrap it and start again is the only answer.

[Moonmoon]

it really does not matter which model they use, cos if they are corrupted any model is totally redundant. 

 

 

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Hosaka said that Japanese police officers’ average salaries were about 10 per cent higher than government officials at the same level.

Yes, but can the Japan police chief afford a Patek Philippe.

 

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“The National Police Agency will not be able to directly give orders to prefecture police. So, there is no interference,” he said. Hosaka said prefecture police, as a result, were neutral and free from any political interference. 

Interference is the way of life in Thailand.  People with money and influence will always get their way.

[darksidedog]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He added that Japanese police also investigated crimes very thoroughly before making arrests.

Whereas Thai police take the suspect to the ATM before deciding whether to arrest them or not.

[ChrisY1]

The Japanese are educated...they have a great work ethic, have respect for their fellow man and they're patriotic.

Their police force is generally excellent.

Thailand will never be at a level to emulate the Japanese.

[lupin]

3 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

The Japanese are educated...they have a great work ethic, have respect for their fellow man and they're patriotic.

Their police force is generally excellent.

Thailand will never be at a level to emulate the Japanese.

Agreed... I also think it is a little ridiculous to compare criminality and the policing of it between low IQ (Thailand 91) and high IQ (Japan 105) populations. The level of criminality and the way it is enforced, various enormously by this metric alone.... and no, I don't really care if facts are PC or not.

[BasalBanality]

1 minute ago, lupin said:

Agreed... I also think it is a little ridiculous to compare criminality and the policing of it between low IQ (Thailand 91) and high IQ (Japan 105) populations. The level of criminality and the way it is enforced, various enormously by this metric alone.... and no, I don't really care if facts are PC or not.

Patronage, the one commonality that underlies both cultures, that is inherently detrimental to effective law enforcement at any level.

 

Look beyond the packaging and the Japanese offer their own can of worms.

[kotsak]

Reform at any level here is like trying to restore a rotten piece of furniture. Education is the key but of course that doesn't fit the serf -producing model.

[BasalBanality]

6 minutes ago, kotsak said:

Reform at any level here is like trying to restore a rotten piece of furniture. Education is the key but of course that doesn't fit the serf -producing model.

Actually education does nestle well with nurturing serfdom as long as one have; time, an insular culture and patriarchal social structure, the results can be spectacular. 

 

[ezzra]

You can copy any police force around the world, but you can't copy integrity,

loyalty, and honesty in a policeman, it has to come from within.....

[ExpatOilWorker]

There is no (or very little) crime in Japan:

 

https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21722216-there-was-just-one-fatal-shooting-whole-2015-crime-dries-up-japans-police-hunt

[BasalBanality]

2 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

There is no (or very little) crime in Japan:

 

https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21722216-there-was-just-one-fatal-shooting-whole-2015-crime-dries-up-japans-police-hunt

Quote

Japan is almost crime-free not thanks to the police, says Yoshihiro Yasuda, a campaigning lawyer, but because people police themselves.

Not quite the same as kreng jai.

[captspectre]

thai police will NEVER be as good as the Japanese Police for the following reasons, 1. lack of honor, 2, taking bribes, 3, honesty, 4. ability to take responsibility for their actions, 5. favoritism, i am sure that I left a few out,

 

[gandalf12]

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

American police trained them after WW2 and along with their very  unique culture, created a formidable and polite force.

 

It will take Thailand 70 years to be what the Japanese police have become. Good luck. 

70 years are you joking? It will take a lot longer than that

[Eric Loh]

Thailand can forget about emulating and reforming if there is no leaders with the political will and fortitude. Words and keeping repeating the same mantra on police reform just will not cut it and will never ever be fulfilled. LKY's strong political will and personal commitment and involvement to reform Singapore from a crime infested and corruption in the Singapore Police Force and make them seen as world class crime fighters today. Japan is by far the best in the world in relation to their performance and training. Thailand is aiming too high. By the way, is police reform in the 20 years plan? Quick answer is NO because this junta government has no political will and intention.  

[BasalBanality]

12 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Thailand can forget about emulating and reforming if there is no leaders with the political will and fortitude. Words and keeping repeating the same mantra on police reform just will not cut it and will never ever be fulfilled. LKY's strong political will and personal commitment and involvement to reform Singapore from a crime infested and corruption in the Singapore Police Force and make them seen as world class crime fighters today. Japan is by far the best in the world in relation to their performance and training. Thailand is aiming too high. By the way, is police reform in the 20 years plan? Quick answer is NO because this junta government has no political will and intention.  

How can anyone forget Singapore's Internal Security Act and judicious use of the courts that contributed to its current state of stability?

[ezflip]

Even if they went as far as sacking everyone on the police force, corruption will continue to exist since it is so ingrained in the public's mind that if they want something done by the police, they must pay.

 

They would have to teach all the new police to refuses money for anything and still, people will continue to try to buy their way - be it out of a sticky situation or just to grease the wheel while applying for a permit, license or other official act. Both sides must be re-educated, not just the police itself.

[ben2talk]

A 'Policeman' is a kind of person suited to the job of policing.

 

The RTP never bothered with recruiting 'policemen' and so the name just doesn't apply.

 

Policing is a part of the culture - and Thai culture doesn't fit the Japanese model, so the Japanese police don't fit this country!

 

Perhaps they should consider branching out with a new branch - with a new colour for the uniform - a 'Metropolitan Police Force'.

 

They could also toy with the idea of buying a computer and allowing all policemen to access the computer via terminals, via radio communications, and create some kind of 'National Database'.

 

So many brilliant ideas... go out and stop a dangerous driver in your 'Police Car' and learn that those flashing red lights aren't really meant for cruising prettily at 50km/h down BangnaTrad hard shoulder on your bike on the way to pick up your donuts...

 

Reform ROFL

[Eric Loh]

16 minutes ago, BasalBanality said:

How can anyone forget Singapore's Internal Security Act and judicious use of the courts that contributed to its current state of stability?

History lessons for ISA and their current application against IS militants are worthy reading material. Any form of conviction of corrupt police officers are most comforting. There should be zero tolerance for police officer corruptions. 

[Orton Rd]

No Thai institution will ever come close to matching the standards of the Japanese, they are an advanced civilized nation. The first thing the Thai Police need to do is stamp out bribes just to 'pass' the entrance exam. It's a pity the Japanese left in 1945.

Edited August 10, 2017 by Orton Rd

[Tom89]

Japanese cops are worthless. The main difference is they don't take bribes from the guy on the street. They're just in the pocket of the Yakuza.

[VocalNeal]

Like most police forces the idea is to stop the poor stealing from the rich. At this the Thai police are quite good. 

 

Maybe the Japanese people are policed by consent, which would explain the low crime rates. Japanese people are less likely to commit crimes.

[TeaMonkey]

deleted: better not post this..might get in trouble.

 

Edited August 10, 2017 by TeaMonkey

[chainarong]

In yer dreams...........................