The Inspection Department of the Ministry of Public Security is investigating the performance of police officers nationwide, after having encouraged the public to submit complaints via comment boxes.
The Deputy Director General of the department, Lieutenant Colonel Khamphasith Vongmounthong, said on Thursday that department officials had a heavier workload after installing the green boxes around the country last year, into which citizens can place comments and grievances related to the police force.
There are now 103 boxes installed in front of almost every provincial and district police headquarters around the country, with plans to place more in every district police headquarters this year.
The police officer, who is a member of the inspection committee, said the department had received a number of letters from the public, giving both positive and negative comments about the work of police officers.
He said he was in Bokeo province last week to follow up several issues brought to his attention by the letters, but he was unable to comment on the results of the investigation.
He confirmed that department officials had read all the letters and reported them to the Minister of Public Security for advice on how to respond. He also confirmed that the minister had supervised the inspection committee in investigating grievances in several provinces.
According to him, Khamphasith, one of last year's largest cases involved a woman in Thakhek district, Khammuan province, who filed a complaint to the ministry that a provincial police officer had abused his power and arrested her without reference to any laws.
“Based on the particulars of the complaint, the minister ordered us to go to the province to investigate the case,” he told Vientiane Times.
After investigating, the committee found that the police officer had behaved correctly and in accordance with his duties, and no further action was taken.
He confirmed that the committee would have had no hesitation in punishing the police officer if his actions had bee n incorrect.
Lieutenant Colonel Khamphasith said the inspection would have a positive influence on the police force in the long term, as it would force officials to reassess and improve the process of carrying out their duties.
“Unles s we ask for criticism, we will never be able to determine our weak and strong points,” he said.
He said the Ministry of Public Security had made a strong commitment to build a transparent security force, with the aim of eliminating negative influences and promoting the importance of police work within the community.
