New reform plan for police to be considered
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THE POLICE force could be facing big changes as the Cabinet will soon consider a detailed reform plan, which includes a provision allowing police to choose their own leader and splitting duties with other agencies such as local administrative bodies.
The detailed reform plan, formulated by a 17-member committee chaired by the former vice president of the Supreme Administrative Court, Teerayut Lorlertrat, won the National Reform Council’s nod on Tuesday and will now be forwarded to the Cabinet. NRC members voted 125-28 for the plan, with 31 abstentions.
The plan reportedly aims to resolve the issue of interference in police operations, which the council claims affects the organisation’s administration and does not allow the national police chief to remain independent of political influence.
The key changes proposed include:
The 16-member police commission will aim to remain independent and free of political influence. The commission will also be the only agency to have the authority to nominate and appoint the national police chief from three candidates holding the rank of police general and working in the post of deputy police commissioner, inspector-general or equivalent.
Police officers holding the rank of police colonel and above will vote for the best candidate, and the name of the candidate who wins the most votes will be forwarded to the prime minister, who will then ask for royal endorsement.
Apart from allowing subordinates to participate in the choice of their boss, the NRC says, this system would also ensure that the person eligible for the top job has made achievements and behaved well from the beginning – not someone who would serve politicians.
The Office of the National Police Policy Board would consist of 11 members representing various sectors, including the political, justice and people’s sectors. The board would have the specific duty of setting up operational policies, but would not have the authority to appoint the national chief.
Police transfers would take into consideration seniority and capability.
Operations that are not directly police responsibility would be handed to other agencies. For instance, traffic and road safety would be passed on to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or local administrative bodies, while immigration would be put under the jurisdiction of the Interior, Justice or Foreign ministry.
