Bad cops and the Thai image

COMMENTARY

Published: 21 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

'I really want to go to Thailand, but I'm afraid that Thai police will plant speed pills on me and force me to confess to drug trafficking. I heard they do this often. I'm so scared."

This is what my Zimbabwean journalist friend said to me when we met at a recent journalist workshop.

Her expression reflected the notoriety of Thai police in the eyes of foreigners.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

Asian Hand
Post : 397
Send message

Discussion 25 : 21 Dec 2012 at 10.4625
Post this to my Facebook
Wake up all of you. Thailand and all of Asia runs on a patronage system that applies in all aspects of "services" in these societies. Police in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam all behave the same way as all their civil servants and politicians. In the developed world they publish the extra fees for services while in this part of the world its understood. As for corruption in Thailand, the value is loose change to what goes on in all the America's and EU. If you are one of the typical foreigners living here who love to bash Thailand, vote with your feet and leave!
Like dislike 6 people liked / 66 people disliked this comment
tamsin
Post : 115
Send message

Discussion 24 : 21 Dec 2012 at 10.3224
Post this to my Facebook
I agree with the poster who said his wife pretends to be Chinese when overseas. The Thai police have no idea regards their reputation, and quite possibly don't care. I was speaking with a Government Official just yesterday about the parlous state of the police here and she simply looked down and smiled.

I also agree with the poster re the good cops. I'd reported a serious crime against me and was being treated incredibly well by the then acting young captain. When the criminals turned up, the old captain miraculously reappeared ...
Like dislike 36 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,644
Send message

Discussion 23 : 21 Dec 2012 at 10.2423
Post this to my Facebook
I dont think the police care how shameless they look as long as they are making money off illegal business .
Like dislike 63 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
cpkinnally
Post : 81
Send message

Discussion 22 : 21 Dec 2012 at 10.0322
Post this to my Facebook
I recently went to get fingerprints for my wife's visa at the local police station and I saw an elderly couple reporting a theft. After the officers took the report, the couple tipped all the officers present 200 baht. I can't really ever understand tipping someone just for doing the minimum work their job requires. Of course there is no incentive to investigate crimes when there isn't any money involved. The problem with the police force is also just a problem of the general population's attitude towards corruption.
Like dislike 64 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
heavyshift
Post : 10
Send message

Discussion 21 : 21 Dec 2012 at 10.0321
Post this to my Facebook
Thai law enforcement has been particularly inept in hunting down the murderers of innocents in the south. How can they garner any respect until those people are caught/stopped?
Like dislike 43 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
OldThaiHand
Post : 650
Send message

Discussion 20 : 21 Dec 2012 at 10.0120
Post this to my Facebook
"The Royal Thai Police very accurately reflect deep characteristics of traditional Thai culture. And they are pretty rotten."
Disc19

I couldn't agree more. The Thais as a whole are corrupt, lack ethics and are morally bankrupt. So, why should their police force being any different?
Like dislike 67 people liked / 4 people disliked this comment
felixqui
Post : 635
Send message

Discussion 19 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.3219
Post this to my Facebook
The Royal Thai Police behave according to Thai traditions of patronage and mindless respect for official hierarchy, and then the law encourages corruption by making illegal things that are not wrong but are personal matters of no just concern to the state, which in turn creates the perfect conditions for corruption and collusion with mafia and other scum.

The Royal Thai Police very accurately reflect deep characteristics of traditional Thai culture. And they are pretty rotten.
Like dislike 75 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
tcr
Post : 320
Send message

Discussion 18 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.1218
Post this to my Facebook
Hard to reform the police when the entire government system is corrupt! They love corrupt police. Allows them to do whatever they want.
Like dislike 62 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,644
Send message

Discussion 17 : 21 Dec 2012 at 09.1017
Post this to my Facebook
The only thing that the police protect is illegal business for a monthly fee .Just ask the casino next door .I accidentally saw into the back room when I was paying a ticket at the police station .I have never seen so much money stacked so high before until the guy saw me and quickly slammed the door .
Like dislike 63 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
drsmith
Post : 1,575
Send message

Discussion 16 : 21 Dec 2012 at 08.5116
Post this to my Facebook
The police take an oath to protect and serve, then get a badge handed to them and become worse than the mafia. There is no integrity, ethics or morals in 99% of the police and they are no different than politicians or anyone else that put money above anything else. If anyone does not think Thailand is third world, take one look at the police. I have never seen police in cahoots with scammer's to damage and defraud tourists as much as I have in Thailand.
Like dislike 84 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment

First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next Last

Bad cops and the Thai image | Bangkok Post: opinion