THE SUITABILITY LEVEL OF CSI FACTORS AND PROBLEMATIC CONDITIONS IN CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION OF INQUIRY OFFICERS UNDER THAILAND'S PROVINCIAL POLICE REGION 7

Abstract

This research aims to study the suitability level of CSI factors from problematic conditions and limitations of CSI factors based on the opinions of inquiry officers affiliated with the Thailand’s Provincial Police Region 7 who were on duty between October 2018 and March 2020, quantitative data were collected by questionnaires from a sample of 300 inquiry officers selected by purposive sampling from the population of 664 inquiry officers under Provincial Police Region 7, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation and collecting qualitative data though in-depth interviews with 18 inquiry officers as deputy superintendent, inspector and deputy inspectors. Studies have shown that CSI factors had a moderate average level of suitability. The personnel factor with the highest level of suitability was forensic police and the lowest level of suitability was the inquiry officer. For the CSI supporting factors and legal and regulatory factors, there are average levels of suitability at a fair and moderate level respectively. Major problems and limitations of crime scene investigations in current condition include a shortage of personnel, especially inquiry officers, shortage of supplied and equipment to investigate crime scene and inconsistency of relevant laws and regulations. There are guidelines for the development of crime scene investigations, as follows; increase the number of personnel who have sufficient competence to perform the crime scene investigation tasks. Tackling sustainable personnel shortages solve the problem of the shortage of personnel sustainably, develop investigative work at the police station level to the Royal Thai Police. And review relevant laws and regulations to be consistent and enforced effectively and appropriately.