British Man Assaults Municipal Officers in Chiang Mai

Troll posts removed, discuss the topic and not other posters.

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Tourist arrivals to Thailand have increased roughly fourfold over the past twenty years. Statistically, that also means four times as many idiots doing idiotic things and finding themselves in trouble.

What many people miss, however, is that incidents do not scale neatly in a 1:1 ratio with visitor numbers.

The tourists are not evenly spread across the country. They concentrate in the same hotspots, beaches, nightlife districts, roads, shopping areas and transport hubs. Pattaya, Phuket and parts of Bangkok are dealing with vastly more people than they were twenty years ago, while the physical space itself has not increased by the same proportion.

The result is greater density, greater congestion and greater competition. More people competing for the same road space, restaurant seats, beach frontage and business opportunities. More taxis chasing fares. More bars chasing customers. More vendors competing for the same tourist Baht.

That naturally creates friction. Residents become less tolerant of inconsiderate behaviour. Business owners face greater competition and tighter margins. Roads become more congested. Tempers shorten. Interactions that would have been positive twenty years ago can become frustrating today simply because everyone is dealing with a far greater volume of people.

There is also an element of familiarity breeding contempt. A foreign tourist is an interesting novelty when you encounter a handful each day. Less so when you encounter thousands.

Then there is the visibility problem.

Twenty years ago, if two drunken tourists had a fight in Pattaya, a few bystanders saw it, the police dealt with it, and perhaps it appeared as a small article in a local newspaper. Today, the same incident is filmed from six different angles, uploaded to TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Reddit, picked up by online news sites and viewed by millions around the world within hours.

People often compare today's visibility of incidents with yesterday's actual incidents. They are not the same thing.

Thailand may have four times the tourists, but it also has thousands of times more smartphones, social media users, CCTV cameras and online news outlets documenting every bad moment. The result is that incidents feel far more common than they once did because we now see almost every one of them.

So... some problems genuinely increase with overtourism and congestion. But the impression that Thailand is awash with incidents is also heavily amplified by the fact that almost every drunken punch-up, jet-ski dispute, road-rage incident or balcony fall is now recorded, shared and repeatedly pushed into people's news feeds.

The laws in regard to fliming in public in Thailand are diffrent from say the Uk filming in public is generally permitted for personal use, but it is strictly regulated. The law limits recording when it violates privacy rights, harasses individuals, or involves commercial activity. this is covered Under Thailand’s PDPA Section 397 states that intentionally causing another person to be ashamed, troubled, or harassed by any means in a public place can result in imprisonment for up to one month, a fine of up to 5,000 Baht, or both. If someone asks you to stop filming them and you continue, this law can be enforced

If you are filming individuals to post on social media, use for commercial gain, or if someone's face is clearly the focal point, you are technically required to obtain their explicit consent. Publishing without permission that causes the subject damage, distress, or financial harm is a violation.

13 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

The laws in regard to fliming in public in Thailand are diffrent from say the Uk filming in public is generally permitted for personal use, but it is strictly regulated. The law limits recording when it violates privacy rights, harasses individuals, or involves commercial activity. this is covered Under Thailand’s PDPA Section 397 states that intentionally causing another person to be ashamed, troubled, or harassed by any means in a public place can result in imprisonment for up to one month, a fine of up to 5,000 Baht, or both. If someone asks you to stop filming them and you continue, this law can be enforced

If you are filming individuals to post on social media, use for commercial gain, or if someone's face is clearly the focal point, you are technically required to obtain their explicit consent. Publishing without permission that causes the subject damage, distress, or financial harm is a violation.

kind of irrelevant - Thailand also has helmet laws.... I think you get the point.

Anything that happens goes viral on social media - the police can't to anything about it without serious incentive our consuming significant resources.

Troll posts removed @Keeps discuss the topic and not other poster.

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47 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

I know you did not mention the Thai gangs, that is why i started my comment with "and " which means add to your comment, it is not my standard but the forums standard

That is where we disagree!

Comment on moderation removed @thailand49 either follow forum rules or expect further action.

35 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

kind of irrelevant - Thailand also has helmet laws.... I think you get the point.

Anything that happens goes viral on social media - the police can't to anything about it without serious incentive our consuming significant resources.

I think we all know about Thailand and enforcing the Law ! but that is the Law if you chose not to wear a helmet/ or film don't bitch about the consequences ,

I wonder what brings on these so called mental health episodes with tourists once they get to Thailand. There seems to be quite a few lately.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thats a valid point - but what we are really seeing is a lot of hot hair and egotistical announcements.

Whats really changed ? crack-down on nominee companies - which are illegal anyway.

Firm Visa regulations - Thats the norm for any country.

I don't really see that anything has become worse because of negative stories.

What have you seen ?

All those horrible people taking advantage of the 60 day visa exempt. Legalising cannabis of course had absolutely nothing to do with it. Oh and the authorities taking back handers. All those damned foreigners.

22 minutes ago, phetphet said:

I wonder what brings on these so called mental health episodes with tourists once they get to Thailand. There seems to be quite a few lately.

its most likely drug related and has nothing to do with the nationality .

1 hour ago, Keeps said:

@newbee2022 which bit of my post do you not quite understand? Now, I'm trying g to make allowances for you being a Mick (and we really don't need to go much further to detail your mental capabilities based on that fact alone) but please enlighten me if you need more information.

To enlighten you might be a problem.

My Labrador understands everything very quickly, but with you, I see big problems. But I'm glad there are people here who think you're a champion—a champion at guessing. You should get a prize. Probably not the brightest candle."

10 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Daily news reports of them doing the wrong thing.

No, there are not daily news reports. Often the stories are an update of an existing story. You are inventing scenarios which are not supported by the data. Yes, UK nationals commit crimes. However, the incidence is far less than that of the Thai national incidence, and the vast majority of reported crimes are minor offences. The major criminals are rarely stopped, and most of us who have been around for awhile know why.

The burden is on you to back up your conclusions. I know that from looking at the past 30 days of "crimes" reported in the news section, the activity isn't there to support your claim. Two months ago, Asean Now's gang of bigots were claiming Israelis were behind a crime wave. People like SpiderMike was apoplectic with his imaginary Israeli criminal gangs in Surat Thani. The data just does not support the wild claims. There haven't been any Israelis named in some time, and I expect that the junior sleuth club has moved on to a new group to denigrate.

It is remarkable that the increased reporting of "crimes" coincides with the government change in visa policy. It appears to me that a "problem" has been created to support a political agenda. The serious criminals are not here on the 30 or 60 day visas. They are here on the dubious work visas, the DTVs and the multi entry visas. No criminal is going to set up a criminal enterprise if they only have 30 or 60 days. The profitable boiler rooms, the real estate promotions, the brothel and bar operations are the work of long stay foreigners and we have yet to see these criminal enterprises significantly targeted. The drunks and petty thefts are common in almost every tourist destination that offers cheap room and board and affordable airfares, along with the activities such people enjoy such as cheap tawdry bars and the sex trade. The foreign criminals are in Thailand because Thailand welcomes them and profits from them.

51 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

How the bloody hell can a 60kg Thai guy compete on his own against a 130kg foreigner?

By leveraging his Muay Thai skills? Weight means nothing.

Off topic troll posts removed

11 hours ago, phetphet said:

I wonder what brings on these so called mental health episodes with tourists once they get to Thailand. There seems to be quite a few lately.

Alcohol, pot, stronger narcotics, crazy Thai ladies doing their heads in. Surprised you need to ask.

5 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

is remarkable that the increased reporting of "crimes" coincides with the government change in visa policy

I remember the same reports pre covid. Many reports come from the western press.

An Essex county boy, well known & kicked/forced out of Koh Samui for much the same behavior. Yet here he is still in Thailand. Garf.

Has to be more than easy freeVisa access, as to why these types keep appearing, although yes that helps. Reckon Vloggers, or 'content creators' like Walk about Wayne or that new guy, RH, 'how to live for 800£ a month' stuff share a chunk of the blame. Cheap living, easy women, LadyB's, booze, smoke & more. All available on a video, even your basic, Chav, Yob, Bogan, Rogan Bro, Gronk, has access too & can understand. That includes bottom of the barrel types with mental/anger issues. Now they're here in force; tossing acid, stuffing suitcases, and this guy who rides up to a police checkpoint to have a fight.

If it continues, need a plan C, for short holiday, cool off periods. When it gets bad enough, the locals throw rocks at us.

On 6/24/2026 at 6:29 PM, phetphet said:

I wonder what brings on these so called mental health episodes with tourists once they get to Thailand. There seems to be quite a few lately.

How about pot, meth, bars, bargirls, booze, etc. maybe an unstable personality, maybe somebody off their meds.

16 hours ago, dddave said:

How about pot, meth, bars, bargirls, booze, etc. maybe an unstable personality, maybe somebody off their meds.

Yes, there is quite a list can be made to respond to that question......

Troll post removed @MAGA88 discuss the topic, not other posters.

9 minutes ago, MAGA88 said:

And always remember-in all the conflicts brawls and so one-in eyes of the law and police and courts-a THAI is always right!

Not always. When there is evidence against them, they'll be dealt with. All Thai officials aren't corrupt, as we see daily.

6 minutes ago, MAGA88 said:

This is not about corruption-this is about Thai nationalism.

Saying a Thai police or court will always favor the locals is labeling it as corruption.

Jacob Alexander Elder, 39, is from Rochford, Essex, a businessman. Wait for it ... He is the founder of Chiang Mai-based content creation business. Ah bless me, another content creator!