The Royal Thai Police are preparing to submit a self-reform proposal, focusing on adopting technology to ensure greater transparency, to the government by the end of the month.
The use of technology is part of a six-point reform proposal officers believe will improve the force's image.
This follows reports of corruption and position-buying, which has led Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to consider using Section 44 under the interim charter to solve these problems.
A panel, working on the reform proposals, has reduced items on the reform list from 10 to six and is about to wrap up its work, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Rungrot Saengkhram said yesterday.
The technology aimed at improving the force includes cameras to be installed in police patrol vehicles and as portable devices for officers, he said.
The cameras are expected to help boost efficiency and transparency because footage can be used as evidence, Pol Gen Rungrot said.
However, he admitted budget constraints are proving a problem. The Royal Thai Police wants to buy 150,000 cameras, but can only afford 60,000, he said.
The other five issues on the to-do list concern preventing corruption, general law enforcement, agency restructuring, personnel development and public participation in police work.
National police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda has also assigned officers to draft what he calls an "immediate reform" plan that includes changes at police stations, some of which are now being carried out, Pol Gen Rungrot added.
This focuses on providing better services to the public. Officers will help people more quickly, be more polite and "ensure people's rights are respected", he said. On Tuesday Pol Gen Chakthip met senior commanders to discuss police station reform and insisted it must be strictly followed nationwide.
As of next week, snap inspections will carried out, especially at police stations which have frequent complaints lodged against them, he said.
Meanwhile, Gen Prayut's Section 44 order to prevent position buying has met a technical glitch. The wording has to make sure it corresponds with other laws, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said.