Royal Thai Police

THE ROYAL THAI POLICE

Royal Thai Police (RTP) first came into existence in the year 1455, over 500 years ago. However, the modernization of the RTP system came during the reign of King Rama IV, designed by an Englishman named Captain Joseph Byrd Ames. Captain Ames was the Captain of an English vessel at the time but was given the responsibility for establishing the first uniform police unit in Thailand. Ames, himself, was appointed the first uniform police commander by King Rama IV.

The primary responsibility for the maintenance of public order through enforcement of the Kingdom’s law is exercised by the Royal Thai Police (RTP), under control of Office of the Prime Minister. Since it has to perform police functions throughout the entire country, the RTP is a unitary agency that has a lot of power which an affect the Thai government. Consequently, every time there is a new government, the RTP tends to gave a new Director-General.

The present structure of RTP is governed by a Royal Decree on the Division of the Royal Thai Police, created in 2009. It is comprised of thirty bureaus and six divisions directly under the RTP. (Please see RTP Structure as attached)

The Administrative Units are mainly responsible for administrative and staff matters. Its tasks include planning, staffing, reporting, and preparation of budgets, etc. The Operational Units carry out police work according to the Criminal Procedure Code and various Criminal Acts. The Auxiliary and Special Service Units are tasked with providing help and guidance to operational units in order to enhance their effectiveness and performance.

Positions and Ranks in the RTP can be classified into two classes: commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers. (Please see Police Badge as attached)

Positions

Ranks

Commisssioned Officers

1.      Director-General
2.      Deputy Director-General
3.      Assistant Director-General
4.      Commissioner
5.      Deputy Commissioner
6.      Commander
7.      Deputy Commander
8.      Superintendent
9.      Deputy Superintendent
10.  Inspector

11.  Sub-Inspector

Non-Commisssioned Officers

1. Group Leader

2. Patrol Officer

Police General
Police General
Police Lieutenant General
Police Lieutenant General
Police Major General
Police Major General
Police Colonel
Police Lieutenant Colonel
Police Lieutenant Colonel
or Police Major
Police Captain or
Police Lieutenant or
Police Sub-Lieutenant

Police Senior Sergeant Major
Police Sergeant Major
Police Sergeant
Police Corporal
Police Lance Corporal
Police Constable

Police officials are considered civilian employees whose ranks are classified in accordance with Personnel Classification of the Civil Service Commission. Commissioned Police Officers hold ranks ranging from Police General down to Police Sub-Lieutenant, whereas Non-Commissioned Police officers are ranked from Police Senior Sergeant Major down to Police Constable.

The Director-General of Police holds the rank of Police General. He is the supreme commander of the police force with power to direct, control, and supervise police activities throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. He exercises this authority over more than 200,000 police officials in various Police Bureaus and Divisions.

There are twelve Deputy Director-Generals and seventeen Assistant Director-Generals under the Director-General of the Police. They are selected from among the most senior of the Police Commissioners and are responsible for crime suppression, administration, special activities, as well as protection of the Royal Family.

At the bureau level, a Police Bureau is headed by a Commissioner of Police who holds the ranks of Police Lieutenant General. A Commissioner of Police would have senior Police Major Generals working under him in the positions of Deputy Commissioner. The number of Deputy Commissioners in a Bureau would depend upon the workload and responsibilities of that Bureau.

Each Police Bureau controls a number of Police Divisions. Each Police Division has a Commander as its head and would hold the rank of Police Major General. Under a Commander, there are Deputy Commanders with the rank of Police Special Colonel, and under them, superintendents with the rank of Police Colonel who are in charge of Sub-Divisions. Under the Superintendents, there are Deputy Superintendents selected from senior Police Lieutenant Colonels.

For more please go Royal Thai Police official website

Address	:	Level 13, Tower 2, Bank Rakyat Twin Tower No. 33, Jalan Rakyat, 50470 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
Telephone	:	+603 2260 2222
Fax No	:	+603 2260 2205
Email	:	aseanapolsec@aseanapol.org

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