In this week's edition of Phuket Gazette, (April 12- 18, not available free online edition ) Phuket was rated worst province for " Personal Security." Worse even than the southernmost provinces with its almost daily murders due to separatist's violence.

if so many tourists and expats are there it's not necessarily dangerous for them. Probably it's thai on thai (mafia against mafia) violence

no offence intended, but I sincerely doubt that they have their facts straight, as they say 'dont believe everything you read'