AoT staff seek police powers of arrest

The Airports of Thailand (AoT) is preparing to ask for control of Suvarnabhumi airport, by having the Transport Ministry declare it a special zone, where airport staff can legally arrest anyone they judge is a security threat or somehow harassing passengers. AoT President Chana Yusathaporn explained that the move was necessary since Suvarnabhumi airport is huge, and that maintaining security there should be a priority. He added that Suvarnabhumi is where most unlicensed taxi drivers and tour guides find their prey. "They often lure unknowing tourists who arrive here and milk them of their money," he said. "Airport officials are unable to do anything about them because the law does not

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=125834

Tourism is a huge part of the Thai economy.

There is no law protecting them from these scumbags?

Actually I think this is good if the staff are good people.

Unfortunately not all of them are according to the other thread.

I wonder if this links in to the other thread in this sub-forum "Security"?

Airport seeks power to arrest illegal taxi gangs

Airports of Thailand (AoT) will ask the Transport Ministry to empower its staff to arrest offenders at Suvarnabhumi airport so that it can end the problem of illegal taxi operators and other legal violations. Chaturongkhapol Sodmanee, deputy director of the airport, said yesterday this would be the right solution. It could be done if the airport was declared a special area where the AoT could arrest wrongdoers. It was difficult for AoT to tackle the influential gangs at the airport, especially illegal taxi operators, because only police have the right of arrest, he said. At the moment, AoT staff have problems in coordinating arrests with police, and swift legal action is usually not possible. Chaturongkhapol said the AoT would seek authority from the Transport Ministry.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/07Mar2008_news09.php

How difficult can it be to have 2 or so police officers stationed at the airport to deal with this on a full time basis? Are there really none there now who can't be diverted to do it? The place is full of cops one sort or another.

Unbelievable incompetence yet again.

How difficult can it be to have 2 or so police officers stationed at the airport to deal with this on a full time basis? Are there really none there now who can't be diverted to do it? The place is full of cops one sort or another.

Unbelievable incompetence yet again.

No, no, it's not incompetence. It's just... conflicting interests.

After almost 1 year and half... they are still unable to deal with those issues... To have a proper taxi system...

High profil employees of AOT have links with the taxi mafias... That's all.

And the circus is far from an ending : the new Transport Minister of course wants to put his own urine on the pole like a small dog... AOT board is pushing in another way (to scrap the 50 THB fee, or not, etc.)

And I don't even speak about Don Muang : open or not ? Domestic or international ?

All the airport is rotten to the very core (think about King Power scandal...). Since the first blueprints were made.

How difficult can it be to have 2 or so police officers stationed at the airport to deal with this on a full time basis? Are there really none there now who can't be diverted to do it? The place is full of cops one sort or another.

Unbelievable incompetence yet again.

No, no, it's not incompetence. It's just... conflicting interests.

After almost 1 year and half... they are still unable to deal with those issues... To have a proper taxi system...

High profil employees of AOT have links with the taxi mafias... That's all.

And the circus is far from an ending : the new Transport Minister of course wants to put his own urine on the pole like a small dog... AOT board is pushing in another way (to scrap the 50 THB fee, or not, etc.)

And I don't even speak about Don Muang : open or not ? Domestic or international ?

All the airport is rotten to the very core (think about King Power scandal...). Since the first blueprints were made.

Hmmm, so a company wants the right for its employees to become cops. Seems to me that the company that paid thru its nose for the taxt francise might be getting a little p'd off.

Given the size of the airport I am very surprised that the normal police do not

have a station and contingent based there, to take care of such matters.

Granting additional powers to the Airport Authority is NOT the answer.

Given the size of the airport I am very surprised that the normal police do not

have a station and contingent based there, to take care of such matters.

Granting additional powers to the Airport Authority is NOT the answer.

Agreed

The police are ever present at the airport, they just can't be bothered to do anything.