Youngsters Encouraged To Become Spies For The Police

[sriracha john]

One proud student with her little-spy card given by police trainers.

I spy with my little EYE...

Police are training teenagers to blow whistle on drug users, criminals

Police worried about the rise in teen crime and drug abuse are encouraging youths to become "spies" - they even get an ID card. They hope being involved in real crime-fighting will stop teenagers getting on the wrong side of the law themselves.

About 160 Mathayom Wat Thatthong School students attended spy school this past weekend. There they learned the dangers of drug use. They were told how they could help by letting the police or teachers know about lawbreakers they see.

"The more I know about the bad effects of drugs, the more I avoid them. Besides, I'm a little spy now, and if I see anyone taking drugs or committing a crime, I'll call the police right away," says Pongsakorn Boonkrob, 14.

Klong Tan superintendent Colonel Siwaroj Sukhagwanond says the training camp scares children away from drugs and encourages them to "help the nation" by telling officers about drug use they have witnessed.

"Police officers can't look after each and everyone all the time. About 100 officers take turns working around the clock in this area. It's not enough," Siwaroj says.

The students discuss things they don't want to see at their school and how they can help prevent crime. They were taught the virtues of punctuality and responsibility, too. One of the students will be appointed as liaison between the junior spies and school administrators.

The spy camp was arranged by the school and police from Klong Tan and Kannayao. Siwaroj says another camp will be held at Kasem Polytechnic College soon.

- Daily Xpress / June 9, 2008

[farang prince]

While I understand the goal of the "little spy" program, I worry that providing ID cards for the kids might make them the target of retaliation. In the United States, many communities have Campus Crime Stoppers programs, which are operated the same way as the highly successful Crime Stoppers programs that have solved more than a million crimes and recovered more than $8 billion worth of stolen property and narcotics. Students can call a special Campus Crime Stoppers hotline and anonymously provide information about other students who bring weapons to school or deal drugs on campus or who bully other students. The students raise funds from various fundraising events in order to pay for the rewards at their schools. The hotlines are manned by trained police officers or school resource officers. Campus Crime Stoppers has helped solved thousands of crimes -- both major and minor offenses. And as far as I know, no one has ever been the target of retaliation.

[TEFLMike]

Hi SirrachaJohn,

Whilst I deplore the use of children for police activities, may I advise that the UK use underage children to go into shops to buy alchohol

[tuky]

Hi SirrachaJohn,

Whilst I deplore the use of children for police activities, may I advise that the UK use underage children to go into shops to buy alchohol

Not sure if it still happens but the Aussie police used to do the same thing for ciggies.

[sriracha john]

While I understand the goal of the "little spy" program, I worry that providing ID cards for the kids might make them the target of retaliation. In the United States, many communities have Campus Crime Stoppers programs, which are operated the same way as the highly successful Crime Stoppers programs that have solved more than a million crimes and recovered more than $8 billion worth of stolen property and narcotics. Students can call a special Campus Crime Stoppers hotline and anonymously provide information about other students who bring weapons to school or deal drugs on campus or who bully other students. The students raise funds from various fundraising events in order to pay for the rewards at their schools. The hotlines are manned by trained police officers or school resource officers. Campus Crime Stoppers has helped solved thousands of crimes -- both major and minor offenses. And as far as I know, no one has ever been the target of retaliation.

Hi SirrachaJohn,

Whilst I deplore the use of children for police activities, may I advise that the UK use underage children to go into shops to buy alchohol

Hi SirrachaJohn,

Whilst I deplore the use of children for police activities, may I advise that the UK use underage children to go into shops to buy alchohol

Not sure if it still happens but the Aussie police used to do the same thing for ciggies.

Do they use 13 and 14 year olds for any these operations or programs?

[geriatrickid]

Provinces in Canada use teens between 13 and 17 for tobacco sale monitoring. Older looking teens are used for liquor law enforcement. The format was based upon programs in various EU nations.

[Pierrot]

The students discuss things they don't want to see at their school and how they can help prevent crime. They were taught the virtues of punctuality and responsibility, too.

What wrong with that ?

No further comment ...

[Scott]

It's one thing to meet with students, give them your card, tell them to call if there is a problem etc. It's something quite different to label them as a "spy" and give them an ID saying they do it. There are some bad folks out there and we don't want the young ones being mistreated or worse when scores are settled.

So, let's see, we are suppose to give the police our used cooking oil so they can make diesel. Pay them their tea money and now the kids are going to do some more work for them!

[Briggsy]

I'm trying to stop my mind draw parallels with the Khmer Rouge.

[gymshark]

Disgraceful and dangerous way to use kids. They should be studying and having fun, not grassing people up. If the cops can't do it themselves then that is pretty piss poor.

On the subject, anyone seen the fool in the cowboy hat who makes his little girl do gymnastics on a table in walking street while people take pictures up her skirt?

Some people shouldn't be allowed near kids.

Edited June 9, 2008 by gymshark

[Pierrot]

Before going any further with this topic, could someone please check if the word "spy" is an accurate translation for this programm. Knowing the average level of the english press in this country, a double check is never a luxury.

[Pierrot]

Disgraceful and dangerous way to use kids. They should be studying and having fun, not grassing people up. If the cops can't do it themselves then that is pretty piss poor.

Absolutely agree with you, they should be studying and having fun. But taking drug is part of having fun at this age and obviously drug pushers are not the last one to take advantage of the situation.

[highlander76]

not the best idea how long untill some kid gets killed for grassing on someone this is Thailand we all know how deadly this country is

[kmart]

I'm trying to stop my mind draw parallels with the Khmer Rouge.

Ditto. Using young kids to "shop" people (sometimes for just singing something as innocuous as "pre-revolutionary" song) is the hallmark of lunatic totalitarians such as the KR and Mao's young spies during the "Cultural Revolution" purges.

Smacks here of nothing more sinister than the notoriously lazy-arsed and inept BiB using child labour as leg-work, though.