The National Reform Council (NRC) will set up a joint panel staffed by representatives of its reform committees to consider whether police investigation work should be separated from the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO).
The NRC plan was announced yesterday by Pol Col Wirut Sirisawat, adviser to the reform sub-committee on structures, authorities and working processes for the public interest under the council's panel on law and judicial reform.
Representatives of various NRC reform panels will sit on the joint panel, which is expected to be formed next week on the orders of NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana.
The move came after the NRC on Tuesday voted to delay its consideration of a report on police reforms released by its law and justice process reforms committee, after its subcommittee, chaired by Adm Pachun Tampratheep, could not decide on the issue of separating police investigative work from the RTPO.
According to Pol Col Wirut, it is necessary to separate investigative work from the RTPO so it can be carried out by another agency.
In the past, some police work has been known to serve those in political power, Pol Col Wirut said.
Criminal cases have not been properly investigated because orders have been given to force investigators to suspend probes, he added.
Some reform panel members have questioned whether separating the investigation work will be practical, arguing the work should remain with the police office, but be supervised by prosecutors to ensure transparency.
Pol Col Wirut said he is confident police investigation work will be separated from the RTPO and that, if the separation occurs, it will not affect the draft charter's chances in a referendum — if one is held.
NRC whip spokesman Wanchai Sonsiri said the shortcomings of police investigations have been widely debated by the council, but a resolution on the separation issue is in sight.
Mr Wanchai said he supported the independence of police investigations, but believed probes should still come under the RTPO because police require support with other procedures, such as arrests.
He insisted the most pressing issue is ensuring police investigations are not influenced by politicians.
The separation issue has divided council members almost equally, he said, adding this would not hurt the draft charter's chances in a referendum.