Poll says police reform is tough task

BANGKOK, July 9 (TNA) -- A survey conducted recently by Suan Dusit Poll found that an ongoing attempt by the government to reform the Royal Thai Police would be difficult to succeed. The survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, conducted among 1,082 people nationwide between July 5-8, showed that 77.45 per cent of the total respondents agreed that police reform should have been made a long time ago while 72.18 per cent said that the reform, if succeeded, would help boost police efficiency and image and 62.66 per cent said that there are both good and bad police in the country. Asked what police problems should be tackled in the reform, 81.98 per cent of the respondents agreed that corruption was the first priority followed by 74.77 per cent on abusing power and 65.43 per cent on buying of a higher ranking posts by police themselves. When asked whether the police reform committee which is chaired by former Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niumpradit would succeed in reforming police, 38.73 per cent of total respondents said ‘Yes’ while 36.29 per cent said ‘Nay’ and 24.98 per cent said it would still take a long time for the reform to succeed. Although most respondents believed that police reform is an uphill task, 63.59 per cent of them urged the committee to put efforts in their wok as they want to see police image improved. The new Constitution requires that a committee is set up to reform the police force and that its task must be completed within a year after the new charter is promulgated. The new charter has been in effect since April 6 and the Cabinet set up the new committee last week. (TNA)