Section 83 — Duties when making an arrest
Statutory text (Thai original)
ในการจับนั้น
เจ้าพนักงานหรือราษฎรซึ่งทำการจับต้องแจ้งแก่ผู้ที่จะถูกจับนั้นว่าเขาต้องถูกจับ
แล้วสั่งให้ผู้ถูกจับไปยังที่ทำการของพนักงานสอบสวนแห่งท้องที่ที่ถูกจับพร้อมด้วยผู้จับ
เว้นแต่สามารถนำไปที่ทำการของพนักงานสอบสวนผู้รับผิดชอบได้ในขณะนั้น ให้นำไปที่ทำการของพนักงานสอบสวนผู้รับผิดชอบดังกล่าว
แต่ถ้าจำเป็นก็ให้จับตัวไป
ในกรณีที่เจ้าพนักงานเป็นผู้จับ
ต้องแจ้งข้อกล่าวหาให้ผู้ถูกจับทราบ หากมีหมายจับให้แสดงต่อผู้ถูกจับ
พร้อมทั้งแจ้งด้วยว่า
ผู้ถูกจับมีสิทธิที่จะไม่ให้การหรือให้การก็ได้และถ้อยคำของผู้ถูกจับนั้นอาจใช้เป็นพยานหลักฐานในการพิจารณาคดีได้และผู้ถูกจับมีสิทธิที่จะพบและปรึกษาทนายความ
หรือผู้ซึ่งจะเป็นทนายความ
ถ้าผู้ถูกจับประสงค์จะแจ้งให้ญาติหรือผู้ซึ่งตนไว้วางใจทราบถึงการจับกุมที่สามารถดำเนินการได้โดยสะดวกและไม่เป็นการขัดขวางการจับหรือการควบคุมผู้ถูกจับหรือทำให้เกิดความไม่ปลอดภัยแก่บุคคลหนึ่งบุคคลใด
ก็ให้เจ้าพนักงานอนุญาตให้ผู้ถูกจับดำเนินการได้ตามสมควรแก่กรณี
ในการนี้ให้เจ้าพนักงานผู้จับนั้นบันทึกการจับดังกล่าวไว้ด้วย
ถ้าบุคคลซึ่งจะถูกจับขัดขวางหรือจะขัดขวางการจับ
หรือหลบหนีหรือพยายามจะหลบหนี ผู้ทำการจับมีอำนาจใช้วิธีหรือการป้องกันทั้งหลายเท่าที่เหมาะสมแก่พฤติการณ์แห่งเรื่องในการจับนั้น
English translation
In making an arrest, the officer or private person making the arrest must inform the person to be arrested that he is being arrested, and shall order the arrested person to go, together with the arrester, to the office of the investigating officer of the locality where the arrest is made; except that if he can be taken to the office of the responsible investigating officer at that time, he shall be taken to the office of that responsible investigating officer; but if necessary, the arrested person may be taken by force.
Where an officer makes the arrest, the officer must inform the arrested person of the charge; if there is an arrest warrant, it must be shown to the arrested person; and the officer must also inform him that the arrested person has the right to remain silent or to give a statement, that any statement made by the arrested person may be used as evidence in the trial, and that the arrested person has the right to meet and consult a lawyer or a person who is to be his lawyer. If the arrested person wishes to notify a relative or a person whom he trusts of the arrest, and this can be done conveniently and without obstructing the arrest or the custody of the arrested person or causing danger to any person, the officer shall permit the arrested person to do so as is appropriate to the case. In this regard, the arresting officer shall also make a record of the arrest.
If the person to be arrested resists or will resist the arrest, or flees or attempts to flee, the person making the arrest has the power to use all such means or precautions as are appropriate to the circumstances of the matter in making the arrest.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 83 is the core operational rule for how an arrest must be carried out under Chapter 1 (Arrest, Detention and Imprisonment). Paragraph two sets out the arresting officer's mandatory warnings: statement of the charge, production of the warrant, the caution on the right to silence and that statements may be evidence, and the right to counsel, together with the right to notify a trusted person and a duty to record the arrest. These caution requirements were strengthened by later amendment and read together with the handover duties in section 84 and the custody limits in sections 86 and 87. Paragraph three authorizes proportionate force where the suspect resists or flees.
Why this matters in practice
If you are arrested in Thailand, the officer must tell you the charge, show a warrant if one exists, and inform you that you may stay silent and may consult a lawyer, and you may ask to notify a relative. Exercising the right to counsel early is critical because statements can become evidence; secure representation through a consultation with a Thai lawyer as soon as possible.
Supreme Court decisions interpreting this section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 13985/2553 (2010)
Where an officer makes the arrest, Section 83 paragraph two requires the officer to inform the arrested person of the charge, show the warrant if any, and advise of the right to silence, that statements may be used as evidence, and the right to meet and consult a lawyer.
The Supreme Court quoted and applied Section 83 paragraph two, underscoring the arresting officer's mandatory duty to notify the arrested person of the charge and of his procedural rights at the time of arrest.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1991/2527 (1984)
Firing on a fleeing suspect can be treated as an act done in effecting an arrest under Section 83, but stray shots that strike and kill a bystander may amount to defense exceeding what the circumstances required.
The court treated the accused's shooting of the fleeing suspect as an act of arrest under Section 83, yet held that two rounds which strayed and killed a bystander were defense beyond what the situation warranted.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 1549/2525 (1982)
Under the text of Section 83 then in force, the officer was required only to notify the person that he was to be arrested; it did not require the officer to state the charge or to make an arrest record (the notification of the charge being governed instead by Section 134 before the investigating officer).
Interpreting the former version of Section 83, the court held it obliged the officer only to notify the person of the arrest itself, distinguishing that from the separate charging step before the investigating officer under Section 134.
Curated decisions with case numbers verified against the Supreme Court database. English renderings are the firm's editorial translation for study.
Frequently asked questions
What must a Thai police officer tell me when arresting me?
Under Section 83 paragraph two, the arresting officer must inform you of the charge, show the arrest warrant if there is one, and advise you that you may remain silent, that your statements may be used as evidence, and that you may meet and consult a lawyer.
Can police use force to arrest me if I resist?
Yes. Section 83 paragraph three allows the arrester to use means and precautions appropriate to the circumstances if the person resists arrest or attempts to flee.
Can I notify my family when I am arrested?
Yes. Section 83 requires the officer to allow you to notify a relative or a trusted person, so long as it can be done conveniently and does not obstruct the arrest or custody or endanger anyone.