Community safety in respect of implementing the Use of Community-Oriented Public Police Auxiliaries in Thailand through Comparisons with the United Kingdom

• In Event: POL Panel 13. Rural and Community Policing

Abstract

Associate Professor Police Lieutenant Colonel Dr.Krisanaphong Poothakool1
Assistant Professor.Dr.Aranee Vivatthanaporn2


In Thailand, it is claimed that community-oriented policing has been in operation for a number of decades. Its purpose was to encourage members of communities to work more closely with local officers in policing and resolving crime in their neighborhoods. However, within a hierarchical and rigid police command structure have been publicly criticized as poorly implemented and ineffective. Public trust towards the police has remained low.

This study focuses on community-oriented policing. Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) in the UK is learned through comparisons with Thailand. In fact, British policing was the original model of the Royal Thai Police. The study used qualitative method. In-depth interview and focus group were implemented. Policymakers, practitioners, local community leaders, PCSOs, academics in the UK and Thailand were asked for interview. During the initial phase of the fieldwork, time was spent in the UK between three and four weeks. Access was made through gatekeepers. Ethical consideration was approved in advance.

The research results found that the Royal Thai police structure was necessary to be changed from centralized to decentralized administration in order to increase community involvement and public safety. In addition, local people should have more roles to play in terms of crime prevention and solution in accordance with local policing plan. In respect of being PCSOs in Thailand, it should have clear legal guidance. These include recruitment process, training system, assessment, salary, and the power to arrest. Local budget should be clearly allocated for local policing by legislation.

Community-oriented policing, Police Community Support Officers, Community safety, Community involvement, Royal Thai police

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1Assistant to the President and the Chairman of the Faculty of Criminology & Justice Administration, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand
2Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Criminology & Justice Administration, Rangsit University

Author

• Krisanaphong Poothakool, 1Assistant to the President and the Chairman of the Faculty of Criminology & Justice Administration, Rangsit University, Pathum Thani, Thailand, 12000