Dilapidated police stations are ‘driving dodgy deals’

A committee drafting a new police bill has suggested the first-ever reform of rong phak, or police stations, countrywide as their current lack of facilities leads to shady sponsorship arrangements.

The conditions in some police stations are so hopeless that police officers have to pay for their own air conditioners, tables, chairs and even pencils and paper, committee member Kamnoon Sidhisamarn posted on his Facebook page, quoting committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan.

Various expenses await officers from the first day they report to work at police stations, Mr Kamnoon wrote, calling this as the “start of a connection” between the officers and businessmen who volunteer to be their sponsors.

However, some of their businesses may be suspicious, he said.

The issue of police stations dominated the latest meeting of the committee on Monday. Mr Kamnoon then posted its key points of discussion and proposals on his Facebook.

The talk centred around Mr Meechai’s first-hand experience of the conditions at five upcountry police stations he visited without advanced notice.

“The rong phak is the police unit that is most close to people, but some I visited were in the most miserable state,” Mr Kamnoon quoted Mr Meechai as saying.

Police officers told Mr Meechai the government had previously allocated budgets for office equipment, but now the items were old due to wear and tear.

Air conditioners are particularly troubling items, Mr Meechai heard, as they are considered as the “personal” equipment of the officer who bought them, so when he gets transferred, the officer simply brings it with him.

“The other officers are lucky if the machine is left in the office,” Mr Kamnoon quoted Mr Meechai as saying.

The committee agreed that all police stations must be improved, but it is not necessary to always ask for additional budgets, Mr Kamnoon said.

The committee has proposed a law requiring national police chiefs and highranking officers to have a “duty” to include the state of the stations in their remit.

Local administrative bodies, for whom the police often perform tasks, should also make contributions, according to the committee.