Cops to erase files of cleared suspects

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is deleting criminal investigation records of anyone who has faced legal charges but later been cleared of the offences, according to Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, assistant chief of the national police.

The new policy is intended to do away with the burden of people having to formally request the files be deleted themselves, he said.

Despite the case being closed, the records of investigations remain in the Criminal Records Division’s (CRD) filing system.

The individuals themselves are required to ask the division to remove such records.

Pol Lt Gen Surachate, however, said the police would now remove them voluntarily.

State agencies and most private companies run a background check on job seekers that includes criminal investigation or criminal records before deciding whether to hire them.

The assistant police chief said if the records…