CCTV to be installed at border checkpoints

BANGKOK: -- Closed circuit television (CCTV) will be installed at Thailand's border checkpoints -- especially on the Thai-Malaysian border -- to screen for criminals who may pass the checkpoints, according to Customs Department Director General Chavalit Sethameteekul.

To ensure better security at border checkpoints, Mr. Chavalit said, the Customs Department would speed up the installation of 119 CCTV cameras at border checkpoints, particularly at checkpoints in the three southernmost border provinces including Sadao, Betong and Sungai Kolok checkpoints.

The CCTVs will help monitor Thais and foreigners who cross the borders, he said.

The director general said the department would later coordinate with the Royal Thai Police for information and photoes of criminal suspects or criminals who are named in arrest warrants to be installed in the system.

"The information or criminal records received from the Royal Thai Police could be matched with criminals who may pass through the checkpoints and the system could immediately identify criminals or suspects with the records," he said.

The system is expected to cost about 200 million baht (US$5.7 million).

--TNA 2007-03-19

There are a number of other crossings, and I expect the criminals will know which ones to use.

I can't believe they announced this. Why not just do it and let the criminals know about it after you have caught them?

Can't anyone do anything here without blowing their own trumpet loud and clear? Why not word it:

Notice to criminals. As of next week we are going to be looking out for you at Sadao etc. etc. crossings. Please use another means of entry until such time as the Immigration Officers switch them off when they start to impact on their little earners.

At our security checkpoints, anybody without a licence drives round the back of the Government office and totally bypasses the checkpoint. Wonder if the criminals do this as well.

Another ploy is to wait until it rains or is particuarly hot in the middle of the day. Has anybody ever been stopped in the wet? I've been stopped hundreds of times but never once when it was raining.