Prachachat Leader Urges Police Reform Centered on Officer Welfare

Amid criticism over salary deductions for junior police officers in Thailand's southern border provinces — which has hurt morale in security-sensitive areas — Pol. Gen. Tawi Sodsong, a party-list MP and leader of the Prachachat Party, visited the region over the weekend. Staying overnight in the area, he listened closely to active and retired officers about their living conditions and concerns. Tawi argued that past efforts cannot be called true reform and proposed a "5 S" framework: investigation, inquiry, patrol, human rights, and, most critically, welfare.

"Police reform must have what I call the 4 S's: investigation, inquiry, patrol, and human rights. Police must understand these. But the fifth S, which is extremely important, is welfare — especially for officers in the South or in areas with incidents. Today we must accept that security personnel, especially police and soldiers, do not receive maximum safety. When conflict arises, those trying to sway the public target the people carrying guns. Policing is therefore one of the most dangerous professions," Tawi said.

The Prachachat leader stressed the need for better compensation for personnel in high-risk "red zones": "Their duties leave them with nothing. Welfare and risk allowances should be higher because other jobs don't carry the same danger. They are in hazardous roles — police, soldiers, especially front-line staff. I want to see the situation firsthand, and allowances should not be cut, especially now as these areas transition from conflict and police face high insecurity."

Reporters noted that budget allocation, benefits, and risk allowances for junior officers in the southern border provinces are a long-standing structural problem questioned repeatedly by the public. The Prachachat Party and allied political groups plan to take the on-the-ground findings into the policy review process at the Royal Thai Police Office.