Police interrogators upset by order rebranding their job

Police interrogators upset by order rebranding their job

Pol Lt Col Jan Chaisawasdi (right), a senior police interrogator, files his letter complaining about the prime minister's order scrapping the position of official interrogator, at the complaints centre near Government House in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)
Pol Lt Col Jan Chaisawasdi (right), a senior police interrogator, files his letter complaining about the prime minister's order scrapping the position of official interrogator, at the complaints centre near Government House in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)

The confederation of police interrogators has asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to review his order last Friday to annul the position of interrogator, which they believe could cost them their job allowances and career path.

Pol Lt Col Jan Chaisawasdi, a senior police interrogator in Bangkok and head of the confederation, filed a letter outlining their concerns at the government complaints centre near Government House on Monday.

He said the order issued by Gen Prayut in his capacity as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) caused trouble for police interrogators and he should have mercy.

In the letter Pol Lt Col Jan said the order blocked about 2,900 police interrogators from career advancement and about 700 senior police interrogators would lose their position allowances, worth 20,800 baht per month.

Pol Lt Col Jan said he had passed the criteria required to become a senior interrogator only last year, and his promotion would take effect on Feb 15. Gen Prayut's order takes effect on Feb 20.

Police interrogators were duty-bound to ensure justice for people at the start of the justice system, but now they were affected, he wrote.

The NCPO's order last Friday replaced the position of police interrogator. Official interrogators will instead be graded in normal positions at police stations with the rank of deputy inspector up to commander, as part of the restructuring of the force.

The order said interrogators would keep their position allowances as long as they continued to be responsible for interrogations.

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