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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DonAleman
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Discussion 13 : 31 Dec 2012 at 09.0113
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" Damaged the reputation of the force " ? Not possible
to further that which is already so heavily "soiled" ! It calls for a complete, top
to bottom, revamp of the entire law enforcement community not an occasional "bust"
and convenient retirement, assignment elsewhere or, "bed without dinner " disciplinary
program. In the other world soiled law enforcement is given even stiffer punishment
than ordinary criminals as they were, so to speak, truted with the "keys to the vault " !
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steveyinasia
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Discussion 12 : 31 Dec 2012 at 08.3712
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Why does the media insist on reporting about the police reputation like there is something to save or damage further. It is well known, and unfortunately accepted, that the Thai Police is corrupt to the very core with no one interested in cleaning it up. There are stories of the occasional good guy however these are very rare.
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borrocks
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Discussion 11 : 31 Dec 2012 at 08.3011
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it is high time that this corrupt organization was rebuilt from the TOP down & culprits named and shamed with NO pensions or inactive posts....its time to get tough before it gets even worse (if that's possible)
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bluebottle
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Discussion 10 : 31 Dec 2012 at 08.2710
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And how many have been prosecuted for there crimes?
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bikeme
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Discussion 9 : 31 Dec 2012 at 08.209
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The first paragraph needs a bit of a rewrite, as most folks never trusted the police for fair and honest dispensing of justice. Perhaps it is time for a total overhaul, bring in some outside evaluators, let them interview police, look at their bank records and land ownership, arrest and performance records and do blood tests, then decide who stays and who goes.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 8 : 31 Dec 2012 at 08.188
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I think it is good to acknowledge the good work of the TDRI. Now if the police would follow up on the corruption the TDRI revealed it would be even better. But there is this other article in the BP today about the police. I guess they could be voted the worst persons of this year, or any year before that. Many of our politicians, officials and influential persons are bad. But they would not get away with it if we would have an honest police force. Imagine how this country could be if the police would be rightfully elected persons of the year.
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davidb98
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Discussion 7 : 31 Dec 2012 at 07.417
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sounds like good news

rumours of police corruption and criminality have been common

at last we have arrests, convictions and presumably penalties (but the article by this anti-government newspaper seems coy about confirming this!) which hopefully will deter others
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drsmith
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Discussion 6 : 31 Dec 2012 at 07.416
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Cleanup is an impossible task as money is valued more than human life and anything else in Thai society. Thailand has no cure for the cancerous greed that is pushing the country further and further into the their world. Lack of education combined with mass materialism advertising, etc., the message is clear. Without money and the latest high tech gadgets to show-off, you are no one in Thailand
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oldairman
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Discussion 5 : 31 Dec 2012 at 07.295
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In my 19 years of visiting and living in Thailand the Royal Thai Police have NEVER had a good reputation and sadly until they clear corruption from their ranks starting at the very top, they never will. Corruption is too deeply entrenched and it will take more than a few good men to sort out in a few months or years.
I wish that it will happen in my lifetime but I suspect that it won't.
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donshows
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Discussion 4 : 31 Dec 2012 at 06.584
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This is so sad. Thailand is a wonderful place to live. Saving face is the number 1 thing that all Thais care about. This is no way to save face when the people who are supposed to protect and defend Thais do this to their own countrymen.
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In 2012, police end up as their own worst enemies | Bangkok Post: news