Police spokesman Lt General Ajiravid Subarnbhesaj says there will be chaos if the government goes ahead with plans to split the force into smaller units.

A proposal suggests the Royal Thai Police be divided into units supervised by civilian authorities.

Ajiravid said the current command mechanism worked well and was based on internationally-accepted standards.

The general did not believe local authorities were equipped to run their own police services.

Ajiravid publicly asked two members of a government committee tasked with formulating the plan if they understood how a police force operated and what it did.

He said to National Legislative Assembly members Sangsit Piriyarangsan and General Panthep Phuwanartnurak: "General, do you know all military officers well enough and are you sure they are all good? Sangsit, do you know all your fellow lecturers and are you sure they are all good? You can't simply come out and criticise all policemen without a true knowledge of police and their work," he said.

Ajiravid said many police shared his views of the reorganisation.

"Not all police are bad and corrupt. Our good people have to suffer from a bad reputation created by bad individuals.

"Tell me what organisations have no bad people?" he added.

He cited the current difficulties the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had encountered since taking control of the city's fire service from the police.

"I can assure you the BMA will not be able to run the Metropolitan Police if this plan is approved," he claimed.

Under the proposal police administration would be considerably altered and residents would be given a say in administering smaller police organisations. Human rights groups, news media members and lawyers would represent the public on administrative bodies.

According to Sangsit, a long-time, vocal police critic, the Metropolitan Police would be supervised by the BMA and provincial police by governors.

Some departments such as the Crime Suppression Division and the Central Investigation Bureau would continue to operate under the direct supervision of a police commander but not a national police chief.

Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Phakdithanakul said nine police regional commanders could take over the role of the current national police chief.

He said smaller police forces would serve the public more effectively thanks to a shorter chain of command and closer relationships between superiors and subordinates.

Current military-style police ranks could also be scrapped.

A national police chief may remain but without absolute power to control the force and transfer officers, Charan said.

"The police structure should be rebuilt. The current command structure of police as a police army doesn't suit police work."