Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngarm said the decision meets the requirements of the Constitution’s Section 258 (amending the law to allow for police reform) and Section 260 (Cabinet approval for the committee).

Five of the panel members will be automatically appointed – the permanent secretaries of the Interior, Finance and Justice ministries, the Courts of Justice secretary-general and the Attorney General.

It will have 15 police officers, including national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda and his fellow police generals Ek Angsananont, Panya Mamen and Aswin Kwanmuang, the governor of Bangkok.

The remaining members will not be police officials. They will include the National Security Council chief, Gen Thaweep Netniyom, Office of the Public Sector Development Commission secretary-general Tossaporn Sirisamphan, Thammasat University rector Professor Somkit Lertpaithoon and Thailand Journalists Association adviser Manit Suksomjit.

The committee will be responsible for recommending changes regarding the organisation and personnel of the police force and laws governing it.

Its first task, to be completed this year, will be ensuring that the annual shuffle of high-ranking officers is free of corruption in the form of money being paid for promotions.