THAILAND

THE ROYAL THAI POLICE (SAMNAK NGAN TAMRUAT HAENG CHAT)

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.

The RTP is a militaristic style, service oriented police organization with a ratio of 1
police officer for every 260 citizens. All of the personnel in the RTP are uniformed police
officers.

Major Operational Units:

1. Provincial Police - largest operational component, it provides police services to every

town and village

2. Border Patrol Police - paramilitary force.

3. Metropolitan Police responsible for providing all law enforcement services for the
capital city of Bangkok and it suburbs. Consist of three urban areas: Northern Bangkok,
Southern Bangkok, Thon Buri.

4. Central Investigation Bureau national coordinating headquarters which assist

provincial and metropolitan.

Other Operational Units:

1. Office of Immigration Bureau
 2. Narcotics Suppression Bureau
3. Office of Logistics
4. Office of the Royal Court
5. Police Education Bureau - train police personnel in the latest method of law
enforcement and use of modern weapon.
6. Tourist Police
7. Marine Police Division

Recruiting and Training (RTP)

The requirements of candidates for police service are Thai citizenship, a male 14 to 18
years of age for a high school applicant, a male or female 18 to 35 years of age for a
college graduate applicant, being of good moral character, achieving the required
educational level and passing various aptitude tests and a medical examination.

Basic training in the Police Cadet Academy and police school provided by the Police
Education Bureau emphasizes both physical and academic programs. The Police
schools are located in nine regions correspondents to the provincial Police Regions 1 to
9.

Ranking System

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

Police Senior Sergeant Major

Police Sergeant Major
Police Sergeant
Police Corporal
Police Lance Corporal
Policeman / Constable