Enforcement of Child Protection Act, B.E. 2546 (2003), Case Study: Authorities of Inquiry Official under Surat Thani Provincial Police

Abstract

This study is a mixed methods research integrating quantitative and qualitative research in the objectives of studying problems of legal provisions of child protection and child-related cases affecting factors promoting the practice of inquiry official under Surat Thani Provincial Police.

            The study found problems arising from the definition. According to the Child Protection Act, B.E. 2546 (2003), term “child” aims at the protection children under 18 year-old but the act fails to protect children under [18 years who become sui juris due to marriage. In fact, even children get married, they are still young, lack of maturity and not different from ordinary children not married. In case children becoming sui juris due to marriage are assaulted by any person, the act does not provide them protection like the ordinary children. It means their legal rights are unequal. On the other problem, according to data collected from inquiry officials under Surat Thani Provincial Police by in-depth interview and questionnaire, the study found that child psychology-related inquiry officials were lacking and investigating instruments were not enough as well as problems of lack of investigation room preparedness and child investigation instrument. Furthermore, the inquiry officials bore their own costs and expenses of coordination.

            These problems should be solved by amending the Child Protection Act, B.E. 2546 (2003) so that the act protects children under 18 years of age becoming sui juris due to marriage for equality and fairness. The government should increase a number of inquiry officials and budget concerning aforesaid issues for effective performance