Police committee plans independent investigative unit

The new body tasked with investigations will focus on the interrogation of suspects, evidence collection and other investigative work as well as processing cases to be forwarded to public prosecutors.
The committee would invite deputy prime ministers Prawit Wongsuwan and Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is responsible for legal affairs, to provide information on Monday about the separation of investigative work from the Royal Thai Police, Manit Suksomjit, chairman of a sub-panel on communications, told reporters at Parliament on Wednesday. 
The new agency might involve individuals who are not police officers but had experience with jurisprudence and legal judgements, Manit said, adding that the investigative unit would still have to coordinate with police officers responsible for crime prevention and suppression.
The Police Reform Committee has prepared draft legislation to amend the National Police Act to ensure clarity and conformance to the new Constitution’s Section 258 (Ng), which prohibits interference in police work and requires police appointments to take into consideration competencies and seniority to ensure the force’s independence. 
The commission was authorised to only appoint a national police chief, while other positions would be determined by 12 other command structures, including the Provincial Police Region 1-9, the Border Patrol Police Command, the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Police Inspector-General, Manit said. 
The issue will be considered at a meeting on Friday before a subcommittee gathers opinions and submits a report to the prime minister by December 29, he added.