Police commander orders urgent investigation into tourist police clip of luggage assistance

[mrfill]

Perhaps this is what 'moved to an inactive post' actually means....

[NextG]

2 hours ago, Banana7 said:

Let's not be fooled by this seemingly innocent incident.

 

The Police are there to protect the bags and their contents and to reduce the possibility that other authorities do not intervene or potentially want to examine the contents of the luggage.  The lawyer's bags may have contained content which is questionable or illegal.

 

Lots of times lawyers transport large sums of cash and valuables between countries for clients. Authorities who have the right to examine the bags, may want to avoid confrontation with a lawyer and other Police.

 

There have been other reports of Police assisting travelers with their bags to evade searches by customs and other authorities.

 

Clearly, the Chief suspects something improper occurred.

 

 

Ridiculous. Bags aren’t usually scrutinised before check-in or even during check-in. 

[BobBKK]

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

Confusing, so this 'well known lawyer', was he a tourist? how can he be if he's a local? i and what is wrong with helping people with their luggage if they're tourists? 

Because they are not porters and are probably collecting tips?  trying thinking a bit?

[djayz]

This is their biggest concern? Sooooo relieved that there are absolutely no other problems in this country for them to investigate. 

[djayz]

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Because they are not porters and are probably collecting tips?  trying thinking a bit?

So an officer sees a person in need of a bit of help, instinctively lends a hand and this is what you think he's after: a tip!?!?

Would you think the same of me when I hold the door open/hold the lift/stop at a zebra crossing/help a parent carry their children's buggy up/down the steps? 

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, djayz said:

So an officer sees a person in need of a bit of help, instinctively lends a hand and this is what you think he's after: a tip!?!?

You haven’t been here long have you ??? !!!!..... 

 

There is nothing instinctive about this whatsoever.....  firstly, you do not see Tourist Policemen inside the Airport helping out passengers... You do not see Police at all helping out any passengers at an airport at all.

 

This is someone ‘helping out a senior’ (i.e. the Lawer in question is connected to someone and they have instructed the Police to help out), OR, the lawyer has paid for this service. 

 

5 minutes ago, djayz said:

Would you think the same of me when I hold the door open/hold the lift/stop at a zebra crossing/help a parent carry their children's buggy up/down the steps? 

It is extremely rare for Thai’s to hold a door open for anyone unless they are an ‘employed doorman’ - this is just something which isn’t on the Thai behavioural radar. 

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, NextG said:

Ridiculous. Bags aren’t usually scrutinised before check-in or even during check-in. 

The Police could be ‘escorting’ the lawyer (and money) to the Airport (unlikely to be checked luggage anyway), there may also be a plain clothes police officer escorting or travelling with the ‘passenger’ with her ‘hand-carry’.... 

 

OR, the Passenger herself is simply travelling with someone ‘connected’ (i.e. a senior policeman) whose staff took them to the airport and are simply helping out.

 

 

 

[pp00]

Why so urgent that ivestigtion? Did the commander not get his share out of the wooden office drawer where they thro in the money they taken from people? Election time, big words bu*lsh*t outcome...

[ignore it]

I haven't flown for a while  but I'm always embarrassed when the counter staff come out and all line up to wai to me as in the video.

[Foghorn]

I see plod helping tourists many times , day and night , usually lightening their wallets 

[Caldera]

I see the Thai police farce is making the headlines again. They can't seem to stay out for more than a few weeks, there's always a fresh scandal just around the corner. 

[Confuscious]

OMG, half of the police/tourist police harass 300 tourists in Pattaya to find nothing wrong and claim the they are protecting the country ...

But 2 tourist police officers wants to help a LADY with her suitcases at the airport and Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas orders an urgent investigation ....

What an amazing country .... NOT

[dinsdale]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s Tourist Police under fire for carrying famous lawyer’s luggage (video)
by leah

 

Photo via ThaiRath

Thailand‘s police chief Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittipraphat ordered an urgent investigation into a video of Tourist Police officers assisting with the luggage of a famous lawyer at Suvarnabhumi Airport after the clip sparked concerns that the act was inappropriate and outside of the officers’ specified duties.

Chief Damrongsak held a conference yesterday at the Royal Thai Police (RTP) Headquarters to announce the launch of the investigation as well as to order the force to work according to the same Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which should be clear and non-discriminatory, reports ThaiRath.

 

In the 20-second-long clip, two police officers in brown uniforms push luggage belonging to the family of Lawyer Tam, a well-known figure in Thailand, and help to lift it onto the luggage belt at the check-in counter.

 

The clip surfaced because famous political whistleblower Chuwit Kamolwisit posted it on Facebook yesterday, calling out the police…

 

“I am a walking citizen. If I travel anywhere, I go to the counter and load my luggage myself according to the regulations. No one to welcome me, no police to carry my bags.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailands-tourist-police-under-fire-for-carrying-famous-lawyers-luggage-video

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-24

 

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So was this the only person the BIB helped. Not according to the article. "....helping tourists with their luggage, including a well-known lawyer." Well how many tourists? Seems like childish cherry picking from someone who has completely lost it.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I don't have a problem here...

 

I mean, let's let them do the things they're actually good at and qualified for...like being lackeys.  ????

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Next time I fly back into BKK, who exactly do I need to talk with about arranging and making payment for a special police escort, complete with motorcycle riders flashing their lights and sirens, to bring me back home?

 

[Credo]

It's sad that this officer is being shamed for an act of kindness.  One of the endearing qualities of Thai people is their often small but appreciated acts of kindness. 

[MrJ2U]

13 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Considering that these policemen stand around doing nothing a lot of the time, I really do not see it as an issue.

Plus they might even get a tip.

[Zack61]

23 hours ago, ezzra said:

Confusing, so this 'well known lawyer', was he a tourist? how can he be if he's a local? i and what is wrong with helping people with their luggage if they're tourists? 

A domestic tourist perhaps?

[jacko45k]

21 hours ago, dinsdale said:

As long as no favour is shown and no back handers given I can't see a problem. Good on them. Helpful coppers at the airport can only be a good image. Out of the airport though get ready with the tea money.

The problem was they were using police resources to moonlight and operating siren taxis!

[Dante99]

23 hours ago, ezzra said:

was he a tourist? how can he be if he's a local?

really ezzra give it another thought

[newnative]

On 4/24/2023 at 7:02 AM, ezzra said:

Confusing, so this 'well known lawyer', was he a tourist? how can he be if he's a local? i and what is wrong with helping people with their luggage if they're tourists? 

   Handling luggage is the job of a bellboy, not a trained policeman--that's what's 'wrong'.  I suppose next they will be parking tourists' cars with car valet services.  What I find strange is the police commander needing to form a committee to study the duties of the tourist police--the clear responsibilities and duties should have been in place from the get-go.

[Marley01]

I was at Kohn Kaen airport when the usual farcical police escort rolled up and a group of what looked like normal tourists hopped out. Police came from everywhere carrying the passengers bags and one even went and got a coffee for one of them. Was a real keystone cops caper. Also the immigration officer in uniform picking me up from the gate when I pay for fast track. That I didn’t mind, got me past all the other fasttrackers

[richard_smith237]

17 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Next time I fly back into BKK, who exactly do I need to talk with about arranging and making payment for a special police escort, complete with motorcycle riders flashing their lights and sirens, to bring me back home?

If you’ve got a mate in the Thai Police Force...  thats who you talk to about this. 

If you haven’t, then you haven’t got the contacts to achieve this. 

 

[Tanlic]

On 4/24/2023 at 7:02 AM, ezzra said:

Confusing, so this 'well known lawyer', was he a tourist? how can he be if he's a local? i and what is wrong with helping people with their luggage if they're tourists? 

I can't say I saw the words "Famous Thai lawyer" did you? Could have been Denny Crane or Perry Mason :0)

Edited April 26, 2023 by Tanlic

[Tanlic]

On 4/24/2023 at 9:03 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Next time I fly back into BKK, who exactly do I need to talk with about arranging and making payment for a special police escort, complete with motorcycle riders flashing their lights and sirens, to bring me back home?

 

Have you tried telling Interpol you are coming.......they have been very busy lately and may have missed you last time???? BTW no payment is required