In 2012, police end up as their own worst enemies

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In 2012, police end up as their own worst enemies

A string of high-profile busts of crooked cops does few favours for the reputation of the force

Published: 31 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Corrupt policeman have been accused of many of this year's biggest murders, robberies and drug crimes, undermining the reputation of the police force as an agency which the public can rely on to dispense justice in a fair and honest fashion.

Five suspects are brought before a press conference after police arrested a gang in June for allegedly assisting applicants to cheat in police entrance examinations. Officers also seized 10.5 million baht in cash paid by applicants to the suspects. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)

Uniformed criminals started to hit the headlines this year on March 26 when four armed robbers took more than 2 million baht in cash from a Kasikornbank cash truck in In Buri district of Sing Buri province in broad daylight.

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RonBargie
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Discussion 23 : 31 Dec 2012 at 10.4023
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"A string of high-profile busts of crooked cops does few favours for the reputation of the force"
What, pray, "reputation"?
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Fluxit
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Discussion 22 : 31 Dec 2012 at 10.2222
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I would agree with discussion 12 if the police were even handed when dealing with protesters but what happened in 2010 - the police facilitated the Red Shirts' occupation of Bangkok.
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bikeme
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Discussion 21 : 31 Dec 2012 at 10.1021
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D12 Donduck - Perhaps you can explain why the "well led" police force ONLY works when it is against anti-Thaksin protests, but sits on it duff during pro-Thaksin protests. A "well led" (and fair) police force should do its duty all ALL times, not selectively. Had they done their duty in 2010, the army would have never been involved.
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faceless
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Discussion 20 : 31 Dec 2012 at 10.0320
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The rackets and scams perpetrated by the the BiB are no different to those of mafia style organisations world wide.

And the only "reputation" the BiB in Thailand have is that they are a mafia style organisation How can that be damaged?
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faceless
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Discussion 19 : 31 Dec 2012 at 10.0019
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So one can bribe one's way through the entrance exam to get a spot on this lucrative gig.

Amazed but not surprised!
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donduck
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Discussion 18 : 31 Dec 2012 at 09.5218
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hmmm, funny, I thought the highly disciplined, restrained and non-violent use of tear gas against violent "protesters" attacking them with weapons was one of the real highlights of the year, showing what a good, well-led police force is capable of. The army guns such people down, no questions. A *good* police force disperses them without injury. But of course lots of people WANT dead protesters, makes them feel better.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 17 : 31 Dec 2012 at 09.4017
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Central to the whole political crisis is a wholesale lack of law enforcement, with complicity of the police in 'selective enforcement', no guessing which side they bat for, and principally that's because the crowd now in power give them a free hand to be 'themselves' (read between the lines), and likewise this govt prefer a corrupt police force.
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onlyme
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Discussion 16 : 31 Dec 2012 at 09.2016
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Not even a mention of the 3 police officers who murdered a 17 year old and were subsequently given the death sentence only to later be released on bail. Haven't heard anything about it since.
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dickemery
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Discussion 15 : 31 Dec 2012 at 09.0515
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people have no faith in the cops,their loyalty to a fugitive shows how corrupt the system is ,will it ever change,what do you think ? the vengence by his followers towards peaceful protesters,when 17000 cops used tear gas at 9am was disgraceful behavior,that was witnessed by all ?
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barryw
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Discussion 14 : 31 Dec 2012 at 09.0314
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'All executive officers at the Pracha Chuen police station were transferred to inactive posts'. How about treating criminals as criminals and JAILING them instead. That might be a start.
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