Nationwide, the police reshuffle battle heats up as the National Police Chief orders a major transfer campaign! He has opened "suitable-unsuitable" lists, ranking officers’ skills to compete for general-officer posts in 2026. He has signed orders to begin appointments for Deputy National Police Chiefs and Provincial Police Chiefs for the 2026 term. The directive requires ranking candidates from most to least qualified based on knowledge and ability, reviewing those deemed unsuitable, and demanding demonstration of concrete work achievements before submitting to police headquarters. The deadline for submission is 3-10 August.
On 16 July 2026, at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the National Police Chief, signed order No. 009.231/W1917 dated 14 July 2026, regarding the selection and appointment of police officers to positions from Deputy National Police Chief to Provincial Police Chief and related posts.
This is to inform regional police chiefs and equivalent positions under the Office of the National Police Chief that the police will conduct the 2026 selection and appointment process for officers from Deputy National Police Chief and related ranks down to Provincial Police Chief. The process must comply with the 2022 National Police Act, the 2024 Police Appointment Regulations, and other relevant laws and regulations.
Therefore, to ensure the appointment selection process is thorough and legally compliant, all units and agencies are instructed to proceed as follows.
1. Compile lists of officers suitable for promotion and those unsuitable for consideration (if any) for higher positions, with consideration as follows.
(1.1) Units with Provincial Police Chiefs as heads shall have the Provincial Police Chief prepare lists of officers suitable and unsuitable for promotion from Deputy Provincial Police Chief to Provincial Police Chief. The suitable list must rank officers from most to least qualified based on knowledge and ability, and be sent to the next higher command level by 7 August 2026, using Appendices A, B, C, and D as applicable.
(1.2) Units headed by Regional Police Chiefs or equivalent shall have these chiefs prepare similar lists for officers from Deputy Regional Police Chief and Deputy equivalent ranks for promotion to Regional Police Chief and equivalents. Promotions from Deputy Provincial Police Chief to Provincial Police Chief and from Provincial Police Chief to Deputy Regional Police Chief must be considered by a committee, ranking candidates by qualification using Appendices A, B, C, and D as appropriate.
Memorandum
If any unsuitable candidates for promotion from Deputy Provincial Police Chief to Provincial Police Chief are reported from provincial-level agencies as per 1.1, the regional chiefs must review these cases. If their assessment concurs, the candidate is definitively deemed unsuitable and listed as such in Appendices C and D, clearly noting that the regional chief has completed the review. If opinions differ, the candidate's name should be included with suitable candidates and submitted to police headquarters through the personnel department by 10 August 2026.
2. For appointment proposals from Deputy Regional Police Chief and related ranks down to Provincial Police Chief, regional units must form committees to propose appointments only for officers within their jurisdiction. They must fill all vacant posts and provide detailed reasons if no suitable officer is found. Each regional unit must submit appointment proposals to police headquarters through the personnel department by 10 August 2026 using Appendices J and CH.
3. When compiling suitability and appointment data, refer to the urgent letter No. 0009.221/W1723 dated 3 July 2026 about the 29th personnel adjustment program (October 2026 budget year round). Officers from Deputy Regional Police Chief down to Deputy Provincial Police Chief participating in this program who do not withdraw their resignation by the deadline (20 July 2026) are excluded from consideration in this appointment round.
. (This part is a continuation of the previous instructions; no new text to translate.)
4. Officers from Deputy Regional Police Chief and related ranks down to Deputy Provincial Police Chief who fully qualify for promotion to Regional Police Chief and equivalents must prepare performance reports and summaries to support their suitability lists and committee evaluations as follows.
(4.1) Concrete performance records, especially notable achievements from personal efforts during their current tenure, certified on every page, submitted in one hard-copy set and one PDF file named "FirstName LastName (1)" without rank.
(4.2) A performance summary no longer than three A4 pages, font size 16, certified for accuracy, submitted as one hard-copy set and one PDF file named "FirstName LastName (2)" without rank.
(4.3) Submission instructions: (4.3.1) Officers qualifying for promotion must have their units collect and send the PDF files via QR code to police headquarters through the personnel department by 3 August 2026. Hard copies should be retained by the originating units. (4.3.2) Provincial Police Chiefs and officers from Deputy Regional Police Chief and related ranks who are not under provincial or regional units but directly report to the National Police Chief must submit both hard copies and PDF files via QR code by 3 August 2026.
5. If any units have other relevant information that could benefit the government or affect the units, they must report this to support the police appointment committee's consideration, submitting to police headquarters through the personnel department by 10 August 2026.
"This is hereby informed for strict compliance," the order states.