The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is making contingency plans for the proposed transfer of policing the city's roads to City Hall control.
A working plan is expected to be ready in February next year.
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said yesterday a lot of work would be involved if traffic policing comes under the BMA's control. This may involve the transfer of police officers to help the BMA with its new responsibilities.
Pol Gen Aswin said while the BMA can handle traffic engineering work, manage traffic and issue tickets to offenders, it would have limited authority when a criminal investigation is involved.
"If a traffic incident involves a criminal investigation, the existing law authorises local administrative officials or police to investigate. BMA officials don't have this power," he said.
The governor said if the BMA is to take over policing roads from the Royal Thai Police certain laws and regulations will have to be amended to help it do so legally.
He said the proposed transfer could take place in February.
According to Pol Gen Aswin, the BMA may need to "borrow" police to help if the transfer plan goes through and it could mean an increase of 5,000 officials if traffic police personnel are part of the package.
The BMA may have to set up two new offices -- one for traffic and the other for transport -- to accommodate the increase in staff.
In 2004 the BMA took over fire-fighting work from the police and "borrowed" police officers to help and train BMA staff.
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said yesterday he does not oppose the proposal to transfer some police duties to local administrative bodies.
The transfer idea, including removing traffic, immigration, customs and environmental duties currently overseen by the police to other state agencies, has been raised by a sub-panel working under the Gen Boonsrang Niumpradit-led police reform committee.
Pol Gen Chakthip said he may be looked upon as "selfish" if he said these functions should remain under polices control, so in his view, it would be "fine if someone else wanted to undertake these roles".
However, the national police chief was tight lipped when asked whether these transfers would impact criminal crackdowns. It would be better to ask the committee that question, Pol Gen Chakthip said.
