First you see them, now you don't. The police reinforcements coming to safeguard tourists and residents on Phuket on Phuket are staying put now. The long arm of the law just got shorter.

THE CRISIS over the low number of police on Phuket is set to continue because of a backflip on the plan to shift the Royal Thai Police command headquarters from Surat Thani.

Relocating the command, with its complement of more than 300 police, was seen as an efficient way to improve the protection of tourists and island residents.

Phuket's leaders unanimously list security as the island's most important priority.

But Lt. Gen. Tanee Tawitsri, Chief of Provincial Police Region 8, told Phuketwan on June 3 that the command headquarters would stay in Surat Thani.

''Surat Thani is more at the centre of the seven provinces in the region we have to cover. Phuket is over to the west and a long way from some places,'' he said.

''Geographically, it makes sense to keep the command where it is now.''

The latest sign that police are being stretched beyond common sense comes in the Rawai-Nai Harn region, the Phuket region where late-night muggings have been causing concern.

Saman Chainarong, chief of Chalong police, said that burglars were so brazen now that they were stealing all of the furniture in homes vacated by people returning to Europe for the summer.

''We don't have enough police in this area or any area on Phuket,'' he said.

--complete report at www.phuketwan.com

...........................

Saman Chainarong, chief of Chalong police, said that burglars were so brazen now that they were stealing all of the furniture in homes vacated by people returning to Europe for the summer.

''We don't have enough police in this area or any area on Phuket,'' he said.

--complete report at www.phuketwan.com

You have enough police to arrest motorcycles without registration or persons without driving license or not wearing a helmet. The thing is I never see a Chalong policeman much more that 500 meters from the 5-yak station unless he is getting a free feed at Kan Ang restaurant. If you guys would get up off your ass and do a little recon work I think crime in Chalong/Rawai/Kata/Nai Harn would be non-existent.

LiveSteam