petercool

A crude post and a reply quoting that were removed

^^^^^

This can be debated until the cows come home but my reliable information is that if the duty officer asks or expects a volunteer to do something, then it becomes an official act and legal.

In some cases it is in fact against the law NOT to assist when asked to by a policemen - no matter who you are.

^^^

As the article says, he is a 15 year old boy and faces are normally hidden and names not given.

There are foreign volunteers in a number of different police units - Highway, Traffic, Tourist, Thai volunteers and at police stations. The one you met could have been either Traffic or working with a Thai volunteers unit on some road block duty.

In practice, when in uniform and on duty and within a duty that also has Thai police or Thai volunteer along side, they are there to do what ever the specific duty leader asks and that can include restraint and assisting in arrests, checking papers or vehicles or whatever.

More normally they are used and expected to act only when a foreigner is involved as many Thai officers have little English or non-Thai language skills and in the OP's case that volunteer has every right to stop and ask for papers or whatever as he was working with Thai officers or Thai volunteers on a specific duty where just that expectation existed.

It is a fact that abuse of - or refusing to cooperate with - any valid officer on official duty - be he Thai or foreign - is an offence under Thai law and if ID is issued by a Police station or police unit then that has to be recognised regardless of what some might think of the validity of these volunteers.

Having worked with the Thai civil service it is impossible for a non Thai citizen to take up any offical position in the civil service and the powers that come with those positions.

Plenty of advisors rummaging around mind you, but as non Thai citizens the arent civil servants and thus have no offical position. The most I've seen a foreigner do is represent an agency.

I cannot comment on your experience but can say that the information I have given in this topic about these specific Pattaya volunteers is well supported and indeed factual.

A troll post, a Pattaya bashing post and a reply quoting that were all removed

Although it was trying to be helpful a post was removed for being in all caps which is not forum"netiquette"

To continue with addressing the OP's questions, I can reiterate that these volunteers are there to assist the Thai police in whatever way the Thai police wish and that may or may not be to assist any foreigner.

That depends on the circumstances and, despite the post above, some duties can and do extend to restraint and detention if needed even if the actual arrest procedure is by a Thai policeman.

The authorisation for all this comes from the senior police Colonel of any police division or station after being sanctioned by national police chiefs and agreements were long ago reached between police and Immigration etc. that such volunteers do not need work permits.

There are foreign volunteers in a number of different police units - Highway, Traffic, Tourist, Thai volunteers and at police stations. The one you met could have been either Traffic or working with a Thai volunteers unit on some road block duty.

In practice, when in uniform and on duty and within a duty that also has Thai police or Thai volunteer along side, they are there to do what ever the specific duty leader asks and that can include restraint and assisting in arrests, checking papers or vehicles or whatever.

More normally they are used and expected to act only when a foreigner is involved as many Thai officers have little English or non-Thai language skills and in the OP's case that volunteer has every right to stop and ask for papers or whatever as he was working with Thai officers or Thai volunteers on a specific duty where just that expectation existed.

It is a fact that abuse of - or refusing to cooperate with - any valid officer on official duty - be he Thai or foreign - is an offence under Thai law and if ID is issued by a Police station or police unit then that has to be recognised regardless of what some might think of the validity of these volunteers.

An off topic post removed

Two irrelevant posts removed

A personal comment about another poster was unnecessary and was removed

This topic is not Pattaya related and not sure what its about so will lock it

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OTT reaction post removed

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If permitted sources run pics then we can show those.

A post with pics of "possible" persons involved was removed awaiting credible source for those. If credited source can be cited and is valid then will unhide the pics.

A flame post removed. Please keep comments civil. Thank you.

It all relates to applying Queue Theory which in essence says that the length of any queue is in indirect proportion to the time it takes to serve it. The quicker the queue is served the shorter it is. Lights changing too slowly are not serving the queue quickly enough.

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"Buying" a dodgy International Driving Permit as opposed to applying correctly and obtaining an official one are two different things.

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