Reform of the National Police Bureau should centre on decentralisation of power and simplifying its structure, the National Reform Council (NRC) has been told.
The Royal Thai Police was the main target of discussions when the NRC considered proposals for reform in the legal and justice systems yesterday.
NRC member and former senator Wanchai Sornsiri said the force was known to be troubled with corruption, political intervention and jockeying for power and was in urgent need of drastic change.
He said through the proper transfer of power and public engagement, the police would undergo a transformation.
Mr Wanchai said power should be decentralised to regional and local levels and the public should have a say in the promotion and transfer of police officers.
"Who are they fighting? Why do they need to have a chain of command like that of the armed forces?" he said.
"If we want to get rid of jockeying for power among police, we should make sure the public has a say in promotions and appointments. This will enable police to work in the best interests of the community, instead of their bosses as they are now doing," he said.
He said if the new charter failed to address the issue of police reform, the process would never come about, as police have a vested interest in the status quo.
NRC member and ex-senator Chirmsak Pinthong proposed the "demilitarisation" of the force, saying the police were acting as if they were the fourth armed force.
He said the police should be streamlined by rationalising the chain of command and putting in place a system that would actively involve the public in police activities.
NRC member Pairote Promsarn, former deputy permanent secretary for the interior, said the National Police Bureau became vulnerable to political interference after it was transferred from the Interior Ministry to come under the prime minister.
He said police should refocus on fighting crime and hand over other non-core responsibilities to other agencies.
Mr Pairote said several units such as the tourist police, railway police and forestry police should be moved elsewhere.
NRC member Poldej Pinpratheep voiced strong support for police reforms, saying if they could be successfully implemented, 80% of the problems in the justice system would be solved.
Seri Suwanpanont, chairman of the NRC committee on justice and legal reforms, said the police reform proposals were not intended to weaken the police force.
He said they were instead aimed at strengthening the organisation and its operations to ensure they serve the public interest.
He also insisted the proposals would help prevent political intervention and ensure independence for police in performing their duties.
Mr Seri said the Constitutional Drafting Committee should also ensure future governments stay committed to the reform agenda.
Other reform proposals forwarded by the NRC committee on legal and justice reforms included creating a body to draw up a legal reform plan and propose draft legislation to parliament for consideration.