The overwhelming majority of Thais are unhappy with their police force, saying that many officers focused on collecting bribes or acted as goons for political figures, according to an opinion poll conducted by a local university.
Eight out of 10 Thais polled were dissatisfied with the police, according to Assumption University's ABC poll centre.
Most people think the police put their own interests ahead of the public, and that ambitious officers habitually buy promotions from their superiors to posts that control flows of bribe money. The police were also blamed for beating suspects and for indulging in drink and gambling, according to some respondents.
Vasit Dejkunjorn, chairman of the Police Reform Committee, told the Bangkok Post the national force was far too centralized with lengthy chains of command hamstringing attempts to increase efficiency. He also said junior officers were cynical and unhappy because their chances of promotion were based on payments and favoritism rather than merit.
The country's interim government approved moves to reform the police on July 3 but these were quickly opposed by powerful retired police leaders who claim that decentralization and increased public oversight will reduce its crime fighting ability.
The pollsters also found that most ordinary police officers are unhappy, with 90 per cent complaining that they were deprived of modern equipment. They also said low salaries and the favoritism of superiors necessitated a major overhaul of the force.
The reform plan drawn up by Vasit, a retired police general, would devolve power to regional police chiefs and would set up an independent body to investigate complaints. It also envisages better pay and benefits for officers.
But internal opposition to the scheme has already forced the caretaker prime minister Surayud Chulanont, to abandon plans to place the police under the Justice Ministry, rather than the prime minister's office.
The survey tapped the views of 8,613 members of the public and police officers over the first six months of this year. (dpa)
Source: Bangkok Post
Land of Smiles does not include police
Land of Smiles does not include police
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