Special Branch Bureau

The Special Branch Bureau or SBB () is a law enforcement agency under the Royal Thai Police (RTP) responsible for counterintelligence, executive protection, and intelligence gathering on threats to national security that are under the responsibility of the police authority. Special Branch Bureau has major security functions to the king, queen and all the royal family along with the action on counterintelligence and the intelligence gathering of the person or group that acts as a threat to national security.

The agency was established on 17 November 1932 (Thai solar calendar year 2475) by Royal Decree of His Majesty King Prajadhipok's by the advice of The House of Representatives. As a result, the department is divided into four divisions. Sometimes referred to by critics as the "political police", it is responsible for controlling subversive activities and serves as the Thai Police's major counterintelligence organization, as well as the unit responsible for VIPs protection.

A police tactical unit called the "Black Tiger" is under the control of the Special Branch. It handles VIPs protection operations.

History

A Special Branch Bureau (SBB) division exists in the Royal Thai Police as part of its Crime Prevention and Suppression Support Group. Aside from intelligence gathering and counterintelligence, they provide protection to VIPs alongside the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) and Armed Forces Security Centre. They handle matters that have to do with citizenship, such as the renunciation of Thai nationality. Foreign nationals living in Thailand go to the Special Branch office to secure a Thai police clearance certificate. Other cases such as lèse majesté, terrorism, and anything that endangers Thai national security are also handled by the Thai SBB.

The SBB worked with the Malaysian Special Branch during the Cold War. During that time, SBB officers were involved in the Red Drum killings, in which 3,008 accused of being pro-communist were burned to death from red drums alive or semi-conscious and incinerated during the administration of Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn.

The SBB was accused of human rights violations toward Falun Gong practitioners. They have been promoted as a means of routing political opposition to the government. The division stirred controversy in the run-up to the 2007 general election when media revealed that the SBB had conducted its own opinion poll to assess the probable electoral outcome. In response to similar stories before the 2011 general election, the SB characterised its gathering of data as a study rather than a poll.

Mission

* Action on job creators intelligence to the police and centered on the integration of the implementation of the Strategy of National Security.
* Action on the job security of important people and places related to national security.
* Carry out work related to the radio station of the Special Branch Bureau Headquarters.
* Implementation of the Law on Nationality and other laws related to national security authority.
* Offering safety for the Thai Royal Family.
* Operations counterintelligence and intelligence gathering about individuals or groups of individuals whose behavior is a threat to national security.
* Training for human resource development.

Organization

Royal Thai Police Special Branch Bureau Headquarters

* General Staff Division Special Branch Bureau
* Special Branch Division 1
* Special Branch Division 2
* Special Branch Division 3
* Special Branch Division 4
* Intelligence Development Center
* Intelligence Expert Group

See also

* Special Branch

References

{{National intelligence agencies

Thai intelligence agencies
Sub-departmental government bodies of Thailand
Law enforcement agencies in Asia
Royal Thai Police