The National Police Policy Board will meet today to decide on an annual reshuffle of high-ranking officers in the police force, including the selection of a new national police chief to replace incumbent Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, who retires at the end of next month.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon will chair the National Police Policy Board meeting today in his capacity as caretaker prime minister.
Gen Prawit said earlier he would not interfere with the police reshuffle list already prepared when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was in charge as board chairman.
As temporary leader, Gen Prawit has an opportunity to make the reshuffle fair and show he has courage to rectify what is not right. So it is regrettable that he announced in advance that he will not tamper with the list, even though he has yet to see it.
The annual police reshuffle, which should be decided on merit, is known for being sullied by the patronage system. This has created deep-rooted problems, including corruption and position-buying. Many police officers have failed to meet the people's expectations and have destroyed the police force's image.
In the latest case, the top five Din Daeng senior police were transferred to inactive posts pending an inquiry into alleged negligence, after security camera footage showing an armed man stealing cash from a gambling den near the police station went viral.
The officers insisted they were not aware of the gambling den despite reports it has been operating for more than five years.
The response of the Din Daeng police leaves much to be desired. Din Daeng police raided the venue 15 hours after they were informed and found nothing left there.
Several similar transfers of senior officers have taken place at stations nationwide over the past few months. They include the transfer of five senior police at Plu Ta Luang station on Aug 6 concerning the deadly fire at the unlicensed Mountain B pub in Sattahip district of Chon Buri province.
Earlier, five senior officers at Pran Buri police station in Prachup Khiri Khan were transferred on June 30 concerning a gambling den in their area, and five senior officers in Lat Bua Luang in Ayutthaya were transferred on June 26 following a crackdown on a gambling den.
On top of that, five senior officers at Pathumwan station were transferred on June 11 after a pub was allowed to operate beyond legal hours. This is why public demands for police reform are increasing.
On July 5, parliament passed a Royal Thai Police Act which is crucial part of police reform. The legislation sets new criteria concerning the period of time an officer in line for a promotion must serve in certain positions before getting the promotion.
Unfortunately, the lawmakers decided to delay implementation of the promotion criteria for 180 days after the law goes into effect. This means that these criteria to help prevent the patronage system going to work will not be implemented in time for the annual reshuffle.
Given that, Gen Prawit needs to demonstrate his leadership to ensure fairness and transparency in the police reshuffle in order to start to rebuild public trust.
