Retired General Boonsrang Niumpradit, who heads the 36-member police reform panel, said they would focus on improving the police force’s personnel transfers and the relevant laws and regulations.

“I am confident that reform of the police force’s structure will be completed within nine months, in line with the prime minister’s policy. But it’s another matter if there will be resistance or dissent,” he said.

The panel convened its first meeting at the Thai Armed Forces Command yesterday.

Speaking after the meeting, Boonsrang said five subcommittees had been appointed to be responsible for main tasks, such as hearing public opinions, personnel management, and legal matters.

He said the first two months of his panel’s work would focus on studying the research papers and academic reports on the matter, the next three months on revising the relevant laws and regulations and drafting a new law for police reform, and the last four months on public hearings.

The new Constitution states that reform of the police force shall be completed within a year after promulgation of the new charter. If the deadline is not met, future appointments and transfers of the police personnel must be based on seniority only, according to the new charter.

The new charter was promulgated on April 6 and the Boonsrang panel was just set up last week – three months later.