Reward for traffic cops suspended
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JUST a week since its implementation, the Metropolitan Police's controversial campaign of rewarding traffic police Bt10,000 for arresting bribe-offering law-breakers appears doomed.
The Traffic Police’s caretaker commander, Colonel Apisit Muangkasem, issued a statement yesterday saying that the concerned police agencies had agreed the campaign should be suspended.
He said traffic police would now focus on strictly enforcing the law. He warned law-breakers against attempting to bribe officers.
The caretaker Metropolitan Police commissioner, Maj-General Sriwara Rangsiphramkul, said the suspension of the scheme was due to a budget shortage, adding that only Bt100,000 was allocated for it.
Sriwara said he would discuss the matter with his deputy, Maj-General Adul Narongsak, to determine whether the campaign should be terminated after it attracted much criticism.
He said his working group assessing the public response to the scheme on social media suggested ending the campaign, due to widespread opposition.
Critics have said the police should focus on bribe-taking officers, and not just the bribe-offering lawbreakers.
The Metropolitan Police chief said he would find out whether the campaign was part of a policy that existed before he assumed office.
Two Metropolitan Police Bureau traffic officers last Wednesday became the first to receive the reward. He also said he would ask the Royal Thai Police if it thought the campaign should be terminated. The campaign, which started last Monday, aimed to promote and encourage honesty and dignity among traffic officers, who have earned a bad reputation for accepting bribes.
