Abstract

This article aims to analyse the problem situations, causes and recommendations for ending corruption among Thai police officers. The researcher divides the problem of Thai police corruption among three main aspects: embezzling government funds, coercing bribes from the public, and accepting protection money from illegal business operators. While the Royal Thai Police has a very large structure, its officers receive very low salaries. Moreover, unfair appointments and transfers exist at all levels due to interference and intervention from political officials. Due to the aforementioned problems, some police officers are inclined to buy positions, which in turn induces them to extract bribes and protection money. Most importantly, many police officers state that low salaries compels them to commit dishonest acts. The researcher found that the problem of corruption stems from centralisation of the Royal Thai Police. To solve the problem, there should be structural reform of the Royal Thai Police to create a decentralised system using reform guidelines from New Zealand, the country with the lowest level of corruption in the world, as a model.