Thailand's Tourist Police Bureau held a formal handover ceremony on 28 September for commissioner Lt Gen Saksira Phueak-am, who will retire at the end of the 2026 fiscal year after three years in the role. Pol. Maj. Gen. Pongsiayam Meekhanthong, Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police, will then assume the position of Commander of the Tourist Police.
The ceremony took place at 9.30am outside the Tourist Police Bureau headquarters in Nong Prue, Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan. Senior officers and bureau personnel attended.
Later, at 1.30pm, the bureau presented plaques and paid tribute to officers retiring in the 2026 fiscal year, recognising their service and dedication.
Three-year push for convenience, safety and fairness
Lt Gen Saksira's tenure was built around what the bureau called three upgrades: convenience, safety and fairness. The stated aim was to modernise Tourist Police operations, improve efficiency and build confidence among Thai and foreign visitors.
For foreigners in Thailand, the most practical elements remain the Tourist Police 1155 hotline, available around the clock in eight languages, and the Thailand Tourist Police app, which supports six languages.
The app includes a chatbot and SOS function that sends a caller's details and location directly to the 1155 centre. Between 12 December 2024 and 23 September 2026, it was downloaded 702,577 times and received 6,943 SOS requests.
The bureau also introduced the Smart S.W.A.T. - Stop Walk And Talk - approach, intended to increase officers' visibility and contact with tourists in key areas.
More equipment and lower reported crime rate
Under the SSR concept - SMART, SMILE and RELIABLE - Tourist Police personnel were trained to provide a more professional and service-focused response. Patrol officers were equipped with body cameras, translation devices, digital radios and TASER conducted-energy devices.
A total of 1,250 officers completed TASER training across 21 courses, according to the bureau.
The force also expanded its technology resources, including 11 CCOC Mobile operational vehicles, four CCOC Mobile microbuses, 32 drone trucks, 128 drones and 32 Smart Check Point sets. AI cameras and facial-recognition systems were linked to Central Investigation Bureau warrant databases, allowing real-time alerts.
As of 28 September, the system had led to the arrest of 948 people wanted on warrants and seven people accused of overstaying. Foreign residents and visitors should note that the bureau's enforcement work includes checks for immigration overstays as well as tourist-related crime.
The reported rate of criminal cases affecting foreign tourists' lives, bodies or property fell from 3.39 cases per 100,000 tourists in fiscal 2024 to 2.12 in 2025 and 1.37 in fiscal 2026, below the target of no more than five cases per 100,000 tourists.
Crackdown on tourist scams and illegal work
Tourist Police also pursued its "prohibited groups" crime-suppression operation, targeting illegal tour businesses and guides, foreigners working in reserved occupations, nominee arrangements, online threats and fraudulent tourism pages.
Authorities found 530 fake pages relating to hotels and accommodation, plus 15 pages falsely claiming to offer marine tourism services. Visitors booking hotels, island trips or other services online should continue to verify operators and payment links before transferring money.
The bureau said it had built cooperation with government agencies, private businesses, tourism operators, communities, embassies and foreign consulates. It also cited 33 Strong Tourism Community projects involving 1,611 volunteers, alongside more than 8,500 Tourist Police volunteers nationwide.
Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid
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30 September 2026
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