Police officers’ attitudes about drug enforcement in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand has been plagued with a narcotics problem for nearly 800 years. Recently the Thai government expressed serious concern about issues such as the increasing number of drug abusers and exportation of drugs to the international black market (Supath, 1992). Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is the principal gateway for exports of heroin from the Golden Triangle region to the international black market and is an important financial center for laundering heroin profits (Bureau of International Narcotics Matters (BINM), 1992;Cooper, 1990).Like many other Asian nations, the Thai government responded to the widespread drug epidemic with total prohibition of any drug-related activity (Yodmani, 1992). In the past few years, the government has promulgated and amended narcotics statutes. These laws impose severe measures on serious violators, such as a mandatory death sentence and life imprisonment (Hemarajata, 1982;Jayasuriya, 1984). More recently, the Thai government has ratified an extradition treaty with the USA for drug traffickers and manufacturers and has promulgated narcotics conspiracy and asset forfeiture laws (BINM, 1993).In comparison with other types of crime, drug offenses in Thailand have increased drastically. Table I depicts Thailand's crime rates per 100,000 population from 1988 to 1992. As shown, the total crime rate increased over the five-year period, except in 1990. Murder and robbery decreased year by year, while the rates for other crimes fluctuated. The drug offense rate, however, An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 1995 annual meetings of the American Society of Criminology, held in Boston, Massachusetts.

Czech police officers

“…The Thai police also felt that drugs laws in their country were effective in combating the drug problem, a finding that contradicts prior research in the USA (Beck et al ., 1982). Additional findings from this research included overwhelming police support for the criminal justice system and for the players in the process, a finding counterintuitive to Western research (Cheurprakobkit et al ., 1997).…”

“…In addition to political ideology and job tenure, researchers have also examined police attitudes about several other issues. For example, Cheurprakobkit et al . (1997) examined Thai police attitudes about drug enforcement and looked at factors affecting their attitudes such as personal background, institutional support and drug rates in their areas of patrol.…”

“…(1997) examined Thai police attitudes about drug enforcement and looked at factors affecting their attitudes such as personal background, institutional support and drug rates in their areas of patrol. They found the Thai police “hold positive and supportive views on the deterrent effect of drug laws and on criminal justice personnel” (Cheurprakobkit et al ., 1997, p. 209). The Thai police also felt that drugs laws in their country were effective in combating the drug problem, a finding that contradicts prior research in the USA (Beck et al ., 1982).…”

The drug situation in Thailand: the role of government and the police

“…Unfortunately, Thai drug enforcement officers may not enforce the drug laws fully. Recent research on Thai police attitudes regarding drug enforcement shows that Thai police officers (1) have insufficient knowledge about drug laws, although they see the drug laws as having a deterrent effect [27,28], (2) perceive drugs as less serious than other social problems such as poverty, unemployment, crime (i.e. murder, burglary and vehicle theft) and corruption, and (3) receive insufficient agency support in terms of technology and finance necessary for them to enforce drug laws fully [7].…”