Application of Community Policing to Control Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Thailand

Abstract

     The research of “Application of Community Policing to Control Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Thailand” aims to study the factors, approaches, practices and methods of community policing in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand in 2020.  The research was conducted by a qualitative method through documentary analysis, in-depth interviews and focus group.  The target population are a chief of police stations, community police officials, district officials, health care volunteers, home guard volunteers and villagers in five provincial regions comprising Bangkok, Samutprakarn, Surat Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiangmai, where the pandemic was discovered.   

     The research found that police stations in the target areas applied the community policing concept to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic effectively.  The community police team was delegated to work closely with district officials and community leaders to implement the policies and measures of Thai government so as to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic. The research also discovered that the factors affecting the success of application of community policing in the pandemic situation are the leadership of community leaders and chiefs of public agencies, the policies, measures and law enforcement in the pandemic time, the local community networks, and the public participation in local community.  Royal Thai Police thus may apply the community policing approach to maintain public order in emergency situations such as controlling the Covid-19 pandemic by preparing well-trained community police teams to tackle the public security threats likely to be occurred at all times.