Bangkok: The Royal Thai Police have elucidated the guidelines for police officers carrying firearms, emphasizing the necessity and context of performing their duties. According to Thai News Agency, recent clarifications were made by Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabutr, Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, who oversees crime prevention and suppression. He addressed concerns arising from news reports about stricter measures on carrying firearms, asserting that any police officer carrying a firearm while intoxicated or outside official duties will face both criminal and disciplinary actions, akin to ordinary citizens.
Pol. Gen. Thatchai highlighted that the legality of a police officer carrying a firearm cannot be determined by a single factor. It requires case-by-case consideration involving official duties, justifiable reasons, proper authorization, and compliance with relevant laws. Officers in uniform are generally permitted to carry firearms during their duties, including certain missions requiring such measures, such as undercover operations. Entering public places for duty-related tasks does not automatically equate to illegal possession, as governed by legal standards.
The Police Regulations on Non-Criminal Matters mandate that officers seeking to carry firearms for official purposes must secure permission from a supervisor of inspector rank or higher and carry them discreetly. Supreme Court rulings have supported this, indicating authorized officers, acting within permitted times, are not guilty of illegal firearm possession in public spaces.
The guidelines underscore that police officers are essentially on duty 24 hours a day, with authority to act immediately upon witnessing a crime, to maintain peace and order. In public settings such as restaurants, officers must adhere to regulations, ensuring their firearm carrying is discrete and task-appropriate, maintaining public safety and confidence.