Thailand Grapples with Growing Number of Foreign Beggars

[webfact]

 

Thailand’s bustling streets are teeming with beggars, and the latest statistics reveal a startling trend: nearly 30% of them are foreigners.

 

Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa made the revelation today, 11th June, in response to a surge of social media complaints about the influx, particularly outside Bangkok's major shopping centres.

 

Varawut disclosed that approximately 8,000 beggars have been arrested over the past decade, from 2014 to 2024. Many beggars employ emotional tactics like begging with young children or pets, aiming to garner more sympathy and money.

 

"Beggars caught with unrelated children will face criminal charges," Varawut sternly noted.

 

To tackle the issue, the ministry collaborates with the police and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), conducting street checks at least five times monthly.

 

Foreign beggars face deportation, whereas Thai beggars are sent to reception homes for career retraining. Repeat offenders, regardless of nationality, can expect legal charges.

 

Varawut highlighted the difficulty of entirely eliminating begging due to the low fines levied compared to the substantial earnings beggars can make.

 

"Some beggars can earn up to 100,000 baht per month in tourist hotspots during peak season," he remarked.

 

He implored the public to cease giving money to beggars as a long-term solution and assured that ministry officials are available around the clock to handle complaints.

 

“It’s difficult to remove all beggars because the fines are minimal compared to their earnings,” Varawut reiterated, stressing the importance of public cooperation.

 

In a related incident, Thai police recently arrested a British man allegedly begging for drug money outside a convenience store in Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani.

 

Local residents had alerted authorities upon seeing the man outside a 7-Eleven and engaging in drug use nearby. Officers from Koh Pha Ngan Police Station and the Tourist Police apprehended the foreigner on 17th April.

 

File photo. Courtesy of drburtoni

 

-- 2024-06-12

 

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[novacova]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

Foreign beggars face deportation, whereas Thai beggars are sent to reception homes for career retraining.

In the US foreign beggars are given credit cards and hotel suites. US citizen beggars are sent to the streets.

[milesinnz]

Can someone tell me what Visa they are on... as I want one of those seemingly unlimited visa's with no reporting...

[ezzra]

I find it hard to believe that all of a sudden, Thai police, Immigration and local municipality inspectors  can't

control a bunch of beggars and are all at the a loss how to solve the problem, all the aforementioned have no problems

in controlling all and every aspects of business both legal and illegal everywhere but they can't control bunch of

illegal beggars...

[bob smith]

stick em all in the IDC.

 

round up the soi dogs as well while you are at it,

 

them things are bloody dangerous!

 

bob.

[ravip]

43 minutes ago, novacova said:

In the US foreign beggars are given credit cards and hotel suites. US citizen beggars are sent to the streets.

How can one apply to be a beggar in the US?

Sounds very attractive - rather than doing a regular job LOL

[sammieuk1]

So far not to impressed with Buddhism so just give the beggars a good kicking for being poor 🤔

[Pouatchee]

2 hours ago, novacova said:

In the US foreign beggars are given credit cards and hotel suites. US citizen beggars are sent to the streets.

 

in canada migrants legal or not are given clothes, a place to stay, healthcare and a monthly welfare check which pays more depending on how many kids they have. while real canadians are more and more forced out on the streets and this is what our dear gvt does to the homeless

 

Quote

Is it illegal to be homeless in Canada?

 

There are policies and laws that serve to formally criminalize homelessness, like provincial Safe Streets Acts. These allow for people who are panhandling to receive tickets that go on their record and may result in jail time if unpaid.

 

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, ravip said:

How can one apply to be a beggar in the US?

Sounds very attractive - rather than doing a regular job LOL

 

No application necessary, just show up at the southern border, step over into US territory and reap the benefits of Utopia.

[Gottfrid]

30% foreign beggars. Talk about losers! Just going to a foreign country with the knowledge they can´t stay. Overstay your permission and end up as a street beggar.  What a great future! 

[BritManToo]

Just now, Gottfrid said:

30% foreign beggars. Talk about losers! Just going to a foreign country with the knowledge they can´t stay. Overstay your permission and end up as a street beggar.  What a great future! 

Foreigners, not white folk. These are nearly all from Cambodia and Burma with a few Vietnamese/Laos thrown in for luck

[KhunLA]

Wonder what the breakdown is on professional beggars vs down & out beggars.

[MalcolmB]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In a related incident, Thai police recently arrested a British man allegedly begging for drug money outside a convenience store in Koh Pha Ngan,

Local residents had alerted authorities upon seeing the man outside a 7-Eleven and engaging in drug use nearby.

Brits begging for drug money. 

That is going to trigger young Richard.

[MalcolmB]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Foreigners, not white folk. These are nearly all from Cambodia and Burma with a few Vietnamese/Laos thrown in for luck

Yes, we would never stoop that low.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

British man allegedly begging for drug money 

[Gottfrid]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Foreigners, not white folk. These are nearly all from Cambodia and Burma with a few Vietnamese/Laos thrown in for luck

I am not sure where you got your facts from. However, we all know the majority are people from Asian nearby countries. But, interestingly it stands about a Brit beggar in the article, and we all know there are Germans, US, UK, French probably Swedes as well and much more nationalities in the soup.

[recom273]

5 times a month? 
 

All metro areas have own police force, the tessakit, they must walk past the Cambodian beggars on Suk 5 times a day and do nothing. 

[andygrr]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Thailand’s bustling streets are teeming with beggars, and the latest statistics reveal a startling trend: nearly 30% of them are foreigners.

 

Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa made the revelation today, 11th June, in response to a surge of social media complaints about the influx, particularly outside Bangkok's major shopping centres.

 

Varawut disclosed that approximately 8,000 beggars have been arrested over the past decade, from 2014 to 2024. Many beggars employ emotional tactics like begging with young children or pets, aiming to garner more sympathy and money.

 

"Beggars caught with unrelated children will face criminal charges," Varawut sternly noted.

 

To tackle the issue, the ministry collaborates with the police and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), conducting street checks at least five times monthly.

 

Foreign beggars face deportation, whereas Thai beggars are sent to reception homes for career retraining. Repeat offenders, regardless of nationality, can expect legal charges.

 

Varawut highlighted the difficulty of entirely eliminating begging due to the low fines levied compared to the substantial earnings beggars can make.

 

"Some beggars can earn up to 100,000 baht per month in tourist hotspots during peak season," he remarked.

 

He implored the public to cease giving money to beggars as a long-term solution and assured that ministry officials are available around the clock to handle complaints.

 

“It’s difficult to remove all beggars because the fines are minimal compared to their earnings,” Varawut reiterated, stressing the importance of public cooperation.

 

In a related incident, Thai police recently arrested a British man allegedly begging for drug money outside a convenience store in Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani.

 

Local residents had alerted authorities upon seeing the man outside a 7-Eleven and engaging in drug use nearby. Officers from Koh Pha Ngan Police Station and the Tourist Police apprehended the foreigner on 17th April.

 

File photo. Courtesy of drburtoni

 

-- 2024-06-12

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

They should make them file for tax 100K a month. That figure doesn't even surprise me.

[NorthernRyland]

5 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

So far not to impressed with Buddhism so just give the beggars a good kicking for being poor 🤔

You can be poor, just don't bother people and loiter in popular public locations. 

[Shocked farang]

For the people who keep comparing Thailand with their native countries, I'd say that if you show up as a tourist in Thailand, you are supposed to be able to support yourself without working or begging. About two weeks ago I saw a foreign beggar in Jomtien (beach near Pattaya), he really looked pathetic. Everyone in Thailand is OK with seeing a Thai or another Asian looking person asking for something but not a farang, ever! Just call someone back home and get an airline ticket. Stop being a fool in Asia. 

[cjinchiangrai]

Feel free to deport them. I am tired of getting painted with a nasty brush because of the criminals and overstayers.

[Blueman1]

3 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

For the people who keep comparing Thailand with their native countries, I'd say that if you show up as a tourist in Thailand, you are supposed to be able to support yourself without working or begging. About two weeks ago I saw a foreign beggar in Jomtien (beach near Pattaya), he really looked pathetic. Everyone in Thailand is OK with seeing a Thai or another Asian looking person asking for something but not a farang, ever! Just call someone back home and get an airline ticket. Stop being a fool in Asia. 

Just call someone back home and get an airline ticket.EASY to SAY,But He Might not have ANYONE Who or wants to Help Him !!

[thairookie]

Are most of the beggars British, Russians or Swiss ?

[RamblingOn]

6 hours ago, novacova said:

In the US foreign beggars are given credit cards and hotel suites. US citizen beggars are sent to the streets.

Explain

[WDSmart]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Foreign beggars face deportation, whereas Thai beggars are sent to reception homes for career retraining. Repeat offenders, regardless of nationality, can expect legal charges.

 

...

 

"Some beggars can earn up to 100,000 baht per month in tourist hotspots during peak season," he remarked.

I agree wholeheartedly with #1 above. 

 

I'm utterly amazed at #2! 

[BestB]

Country has almost zero % unemployment where in real life translates into shortage of staff across all sectors. In addition lack of skilled staff across all sectors and yet government keeps idiotic restrictions and conditions with jobs reserved for Thai only. Or/ min salary caps.

 

Thailand is a Buddhist country and yet temples do nothing to help the poor or homeless. Watchai in Pattaya owns half of prime realestate in the city, collecting insane rents and yet would not set up shelter or feed the poor.

[HOOD Robin]

6 hours ago, novacova said:

In the US foreign beggars are given credit cards and hotel suites. US citizen beggars are sent to the streets.

 

Spot on !

[Bangkok Barry]

6 hours ago, novacova said:

In the US foreign beggars are given credit cards and hotel suites. US citizen beggars are sent to the streets.

 

Can you provide any links to any articles to backup your claim, so that we know you are not talking out of your a***? Thanks.

[Letseng]

5 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

So far not to impressed with Buddhism so just give the beggars a good kicking for being poor 🤔

Not all start of poor. Don't squander your money on drugs, booze, girls, overstay your visa. 

[Cabradelmar]

How we got here is no mystery... everyone enters visa exempt now, and never leave. But really. All you have to do is arrest and deport any foreign beggars. Problem solved,

[Bangkok Barry]

10 minutes ago, BestB said:

Thailand is a Buddhist country and yet temples do nothing to help the poor or homeless. Watchai in Pattaya owns half of prime realestate in the city, collecting insane rents and yet would not set up shelter or feed the poor.

 

Temples in Thailand are run as a business, nothing more. And they are often inhabited by 'reforming' criminals dressed in monk robes.