The NRSA’s legal and justice reform body proposed the legislation aiming to give police more autonomy in personnel management and to prevent political interference.

The vote count reported 48 abstentions.

NRSA chairman Tinnapan Nakata said the proposed legislation dusted off previous reform proposals. The police have faced political interference since 2004 after a law was passed allowing the prime minister to head police agencies including the Police Commission and conferring the authority to appoint the National Police Chief.

The proposed reform will be revised in light of suggestions from NRSA members before the finished version is forwarded to the Cabinet for approval within the next seven days.