To serve and protect

Written by Admin on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

To serve and protect

JESSADA TANDHASETTI

If you categorise motorists by distance travelled or frequency of driving, I would place somewhere in between because I am a daily driver.

But for someone who doesn’t drive that much and is still subject to frequent stops at police inspection points - then it’s a fair assessment that there are simply too many inspection points in Bangkok.

These inspection points are a nuisance to the public. In the past when there was a traffic gridlock, most motorists would assume that some accident has occurred somewhere up front. A minor fender-bender because safe distances and necessary precautions while driving were not taken.

Today every motorist knows that the gridlock is being caused by a police checkpoint.

At times when I see such things it makes me feel pathetic and embarrassed. A flock of “white head vultures” on the roads are busy scavenging on their prey in a most enthusiastic manner without remorse or dignity. At some checkpoints I counted up to 15 vultures.

The official duties of the so called vultures is to provide assistance and convenience to the public and motorists.

The root of this dilemma is a bounty or 60% commission of the traffic penalty. I have no idea who issued this rule.

At a press conference on August 21 the deputy commissioner attached to the Office of National Police said the police chief was aware and concerned about the problems of the people stemming from traffic and highway police checkpoints. He stressed that it was imperative that they conduct themselves in a manner that promotes discipline. He also emphasised that any police officer who acts to the contrary and causes problems to the public will be punished severely with disciplinary and criminal charges.

There’s more. He asked his subordinates to remember that traffic and highway police must present themselves with the highest standards of traffic discipline by thinking of providing convenience to motorists as their top priority. They shouldn’t erect checkpoints at places that could lead to traffic gridlock such as road curves, narrow roads, steep paths or near the entrance to bridges.

The police chief made it very clear that he will not tolerate illegal checkpoints or any illegitimate apprehending of motorists by “hiding” from view, inviting drivers to commit an offence before emerging to slap them with fines or penalty. They must warn motorists first, he said.

The deputy commissioner urged his commanders and senior officers to monitor subordinates and prevent any action leading to personal gains through improper channels.

If they fail to comply charges will be brought against the superintendent, deputy superintendent and inspector for failing to perform their duties.

Oh! How scary. I am wondering why you are mouthing all of this to the public via the media. This is an in-house matter and something you (police) should be doing on a routine basis.

If you want results and are serious about improving your work process, the national police chief should tell the public of the proper methods and procedures of informing such wrongful acts by officers under him.

Nowadays the public can record video clips from digital cameras which will serve as proof of the wrongdoings on part of police officers. But my concern is how will you take in such evidence, and even better, the police should report to the public on how punishment was meted out to the policemen who broke the law.

The reason why I am citing the police statement is because I want our readers to understand that the police have no right whatsoever to set up checkpoints at will, so to speak.

We must keep an eye on such wrongdoings. We were brought up on false beliefs that we should be afraid of police. Some parents threaten their crying children by saying, “If you don’t keep quiet we’ll call the police”.

I say we change this misconception and our way of thinking.

Most important of all, the police are there to serve the public. Every baht of the policeman’s salary is our tax money.

It’s pathetic that our servants don’t have the conscience to serve their master who provides their monthly salary that feeds their families. Instead, they threaten their master and pinch money whenever the opportunity arises.

Motorists are usually scared of policemen. The only two things that make us scared of the policeman is his helmet and white gloves. Take a look when they remove them, which they do once they are within the confines of their air-conditioned kiosks or outposts. They look innocuous; you won’t see an iota of “scariness” that we tend to credit them with.

Don’t be scared of them. Know your rights. Be aware of their status, that they are in fact servants of the public. Then maybe you will feel more comfortable.

I ask trainers and teachers of policemen that they instill in their pupils the tenet that they are servants of the public, not their master. Their salary comes from the taxes that the public pays to the government.

Jessada Tandhasetti is former department head of automotive engineering studies at Rangsit University. He holds a master’s degree in automotive engineering from Technical University, Berlin, Germany.