Police to end female admissions to cadet school

Female police officers show pride after graduating from the Royal Police Cadet Academy. (Post Today photo)

After preventing female police officers from becoming inquiry officers, the males-only policy of the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) is to be expanded to newcomers.

The RTPO has given the green light to the Royal Police Cadet Academy to accept only male students to the school starting in the 2019 academic year, according to the order dated Aug 28 and signed by Pol Maj Gen Kittarat Punphet, deputy director of the human resources office.

The school will reserve 280 seats for Mathayom 4 (Grade 10) students to become police officers -- and only men can apply, said the letter posted on the female police investigator Facebook account.

The order did not explain the reason to end the admission of female students for police training.

It was another major blow for women after the RTPO had allowed only men to apply for inquiry official roles this year on the grounds that male officers have more work flexibility, while female officers are tied down with family affairs and have a higher turnover rate. The decision angered female officers and rights activists. They urged the Ombudsman to press the RTPO to scrap the plan.

The police cadet school received female students for the first time in 2009 for Class 66. Female students for Class 75 entering the school this year will be the last.