Complaints can be made at any police station nationwide, under new reform measures

Victims of crime can now lodge their complaints at any police station nationwide, under a regulation amended in line with law enforcement reform.

Former Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Amnuay Nimmano announced the new rule on Tuesday, a day after he led fellow members of the justice reform committee to police headquarters to push through the new measures.

Police who receive complaints are now tasked with forwarding the information to the station with jurisdiction within three days. Previously victims had to file their compliants at the station with jurisdiction over the area where the crime occurred.

Another measure pending implementation is the arrangement for pro-bono lawyers to serve suspects at police stations. This measure may see the Lawyers’ Council of Thailand dispatch pro-bono lawyers to 150 pilot police stations in big cities, each receiving more than 1,000 cases per year. Stations with more than 2,000 cases a year would have pro-bono lawyers on hand around the clock.

Other reform measures include a ban on parading crime suspects at press conferences or media interviews unless revealing their identity is of benefit to the public, and the release and electronic tagging of suspects in less serious crimes.

Amnuay made the announcement during Tuesday’s meeting between the justice reform committee, which is led by Council of State secretary-general Atchaporn Jarujinda, and national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda along with senior police officers at police headquarters in Bangkok.

The committee and deputy police chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta, who represented the police force, also joined the discussion over the action plan and problem-solving guidelines.

The Nation 

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