Ftpa In Pattaya?

[allexx]

So here we go...do you want this guys on Walking Street or not?

I think if they change the aggresive uniforme they would be much better off...but that's me.

[NanLaew]

Can't just let it go can you allexx?

What is so aggressive about black workshirts and workpants? Try and not use gestapo, nazi, jackboot and para-military in your answer. That is all so cliché.

But I like your idea of a poll.

[soundman]

This is the News Clippings forum.

Moved to Pattaya forum.

[soundman]

Would the OP be kind enough to explain his recent obsession with the FTPA?

[Lost in LOS]

why not add a

change the black military type uniform, handcuffs etc and aggressive attitude and they can stay button

that would make it more interesting

without that button which i would check my vote is no

Edited March 15, 2009 by Lost in LOS

[LtCol]

To be honest , I think the use of Police Volunteers is a good idea , it works in other Countries quite well , UK , USA , etc.

What I don't quite get my head around here in Patts ,is that Volunteers are in different groups ????? FTPA,FPV,Traffic,Highway etc.

When we made up our minds to move here just over a year ago , I thought I would offer my services to the Volunteers because of my expertise in various areas of Law Enforcement & Security Operations & over 20 years as a Trainer.

But, then I thought that would be silly as I don't have fluency in Thai & I am over 60.

Then to top it off the Chief of Police stating in the Pattaya Times there are no Foreign volunteers with ANY powers they are Translators, so now I know my expertise would never be of any use here , as I cannot Translate. ( Not Thai anyway.)

But I do not have a problem with Black , (Good Guys wear Black) was our catch cry. When I was in Uniform , in different Agencies , 2 had Black Uniforms , as does the County SWAT Team & the Gang Unit . I don't think the color matters . Its the quality of the Personnel.

At the same time ALL agencies are answerable to the Public even if it is 'spin' & there is not an Agency in the world that can claim All personnel are Fair & Honest , because all agencies are manned by People who are representative of their own society.

Mistakes are also made & Bully Boys & Arrogance is not restricted to people in Uniform. Maybe the committee that the Chief stated in the Pattaya Times will get a Code of Conduct in place that will assist everyone & all stakeholders in understanding where Duty Lies & what is Authorised & what isn't. That can only be good for the whole scene.

Just an opinion

[thaimate]

So here we go...do you want this guys on Walking Street or not?

I think if they change the aggresive uniforme they would be much better off...but that's me.

to be honest i can see wanting to help out with translating ,a few hours a week at immegration ect. ,but to come to retire in Pattaya ,then dress up and walk around at night as a pretend policeman ,somehow seems a little sad,more than likely were traffic wardens at home and miss the power.

sad sad sad indeviduals.

[britmaveric]

Great lads and very helpful. Could care less what they wear at the end of the day it doesnt bother me.

[thaiman]

So here we go...do you want this guys on Walking Street or not?

I think if they change the aggresive uniforme they would be much better off...but that's me.

to be honest i can see wanting to help out with translating ,a few hours a week at immegration ect. ,but to come to retire in Pattaya ,then dress up and walk around at night as a pretend policeman ,somehow seems a little sad,more than likely were traffic wardens at home and miss the power.

sad sad sad indeviduals.

Would have to agree with you on this. Come half way across the world to volunteer as a cop? Really pathetic individuals. These guys only give a false sense of security to all of pattaya.

the ironic thing is that these guys are a complete joke as is everything in Thailand. Just a giant circus act with lots of crazy people running around, so they kind of fit in the crazy unorganized scene of pattaya.

[britmaveric]

^also in Chiang Mai and Phuket I might add.

[thaiflyer1]

Can someone tell me why i have never seen a volunteer of any group patroling down the Soi Yamoto , Soi Diana, Soi Bourkhao area.........it cant be a question of manpower can it, seen as how they can walk down Walking Street 6 abreast.......so why?

(think i already know the answer )

[britmaveric]

^spit it out!!!

[thaiflyer1]

^spit it out!!!

Not yet....

[LtCol]

Why are Translators Patrolling ???????

What are they Patrolling????

This is what I still don't get , are they Civilian Translators ?????? if so why is the word "Police" used by them & the other groups of Volunteers.

I must be missing something & why are these volunteers just in Pattaya Station & WS are they banned from other areas???

from what I have been reading , After 2 am in East Pattaya on the weekends could do with a bit of Manpower in the darkened areas.

Actually , does "Voluntary" Translating finish at 0200???

Just Curious!!!

[wileycoyote]

I don't know !

[JimsKnight]

^also in Chiang Mai and Phuket I might add.

Never seen them in Chiang Mai, Loh Kroi, moon muang etc unless they stick to the nightmarket area that is.

Probably a good thing on some levels, but I think having your own race wandering around as renta-cop while the rest are enjoying themselves with the women and drink is a bit off-putting. The last thing I'd want to see is a farang-police connection while carousing with the night ladies.

That said I think the FTPA would work brilliantly in a capital city like bangkok and on a more spread out footing. Have a sprinkling of them in the various provinces in the police stations there. If any problems then off they go with the BIB to help out that way.

Why concentrate on a small city resort like Pattaya? Farang wander the entire country now, spread them around instead of dumping them in Pattaya and Phuket.

The uniform is a bit ott. A patch, badge or armband would suffice.

You don't have to wear it just keep it on you.

[eljeque]

^also in Chiang Mai and Phuket I might add.

Never seen them in Chiang Mai, Loh Kroi, moon muang etc unless they stick to the nightmarket area that is.

Probably a good thing on some levels, but I think having your own race wandering around as renta-cop while the rest are enjoying themselves with the women and drink is a bit off-putting. The last thing I'd want to see is a farang-police connection while carousing with the night ladies.

That said I think the FTPA would work brilliantly in a capital city like bangkok and on a more spread out footing. Have a sprinkling of them in the various provinces in the police stations there. If any problems then off they go with the BIB to help out that way.

Why concentrate on a small city resort like Pattaya? Or a single street like Walking Street. Farang wander the entire country now, spread them around instead of dumping them in Pattaya and Phuket.

The uniform is a bit ott. A patch, badge or armband would suffice.

You don't have to wear it just keep it on you.

[BSJ]

To call these people police is a serious transgression.

From Wikipedia

Police are agents or agencies, usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to ensure public and social order through the legitimized use of force.

The term is most commonly associated with police departments of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility. The word comes via French from the Latin politia ("civil administration"), which itself derives from the ancient Greek πόλις, for polis ("city").^[1]

Now try and argue these people are in any way shape or form 'Police'. If they translators, they can wear anything they dam_n well want!

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police#cite_note-0}

[davethailand]

So here we go...do you want this guys on Walking Street or not?

I think if they change the aggresive uniforme they would be much better off...but that's me.

I personally don't care BUT i think its good for the tourist BUT I think the army style boots tucked in and batman belts should be disallowed.

[soundman]

This is an interesting poll.

I voted "yes" for having FPA(V)'s, as I think the general concept is a good idea considering the nature of the entertainment districts in Pattaya, mixing booze, sex, testosterone and such, and foreigner's ignorance of what "crowd control" really means to the Thai police force.

Many people who visit, or live, in Pattaya, would never have had the chance to witness the police using whatever force they deem necessary, and generally allowed (allthough probably not legal) under their remit, to subdue a fight, quell a brawl or dealing with an annoying agressive drunk. Out of many areas that I believe the FPA(V)'s can be of welcome assistance, one is actually protecting foreigners from themselves amongst other duties.

Where I live, if an obnoxious drunk starts mouthing off at a police officer, he will be lucky if he doesn't end up in hospital, usually a Thai or occasionally a Foreigner.

Other side of the coin, I believe that the FPA(V)'s should have a good think about their image, my personal opinion is that it should be adjusted so foreigners are comfortable to approach them for whatever reason. Wearing a small flag or badge indicating what nationality/languages the individual officer is familiar with would be a help.

[bob4you]

The sad thing is the FTPA are there to help the tourists and get mostly rave reviews and compliments from them and few complaints. The expats who live here cause more problems than the average tourist, complain most about the uniforms and perceived attitude and are often the "drunks" that we have to escort home. Ease up guys we are trying to perform a public service for the tourists.

[davethailand]

The sad thing is the FTPA are there to help the tourists and get mostly rave reviews and compliments from them and few complaints. The expats who live here cause more problems than the average tourist, complain most about the uniforms and perceived attitude and are often the "drunks" that we have to escort home. Ease up guys we are trying to perform a public service for the tourists.

Uniforms aren't a problem but where is the need for big boots and combat trousers etc. A Lot of the guys I see wear smart polo shirts and trousers with shoes, they look more professional and less intimidating which IMO could get people's backs up quicker.

As said I think they are a good thing for the tourists and businesses etc but I also think that the kind of uniform is an important factor.

[PhilHarries]

Personally I don't care if they are there or not. In the twelve years I lived in Pattaya and during all the subsequent visits I have never needed the assistance of a translator or a policeman, real or cardboard cutout, whilst out on the town. Having said that I can see the need for some kind of translation service to go between the police and the tourists although what language they should translate to is open to question. However there can be no need, nor justification, for these guys to don uniforms nor even patrol at all. They should be on a roster to be on call by the police when their services are needed.

So had there been a "Yes, but not in their current guise" option I would have voted that way.

However what I find strange is the very strong opinions about them expressed here on ThaiVisa. How many board members actually admit to living in Pattaya? Of those that do, how many ever go down Walking Street late at night, or would admit to it? Most board members claim to be whiter than white and purer than the driven snow and would never been seen dead mingling amongst the whoremongers, prostitutes, drug addicts and other low life specimens that infest WS. Yet all these people who have never been down there have detailed knowledge of all the comings and goings, all the dodgy characters and all the venues of the place. I guess they must be amongst those "all knowing, all seeing" race of superbeings that are visiting planet Earth.

Currently I am back in Pattaya every three months and every visit I go down WS late evening at least once, mainly to remind myself why I don't go down WS. During all those times I must have seen these volunteers but, as I stated on another thread, a bunch of guys in fancy dress hardly stand out in the general melee of sights to behold. But you have to give them credit where credit is due. How many of us would be willing to wear such a uniform and be seen out in public walking down the street like some distorted remake of High Noon (as shown in the video clip on another thread)? I'd not be able to stop laughing long enough to do up the buttons.

[Lost in LOS]

saw my friend a the beach today, as i do he walks the beach every morning in jomtien. he told me that a couple of days ago he was riding his motorcycle and a younger, well built,farang was driving crazy at the beach. he yelled for the guy to slow down and the guy went nuts and kept trying to cut him off yelling he was police. He tried to evade him but the guy kept trying to stop him by cutting him off. my friend pulled into the police station and ran in. the guy followed and my friend told the real police what happened. the "real" police confronted the "farang police" while the drunken farang was yelling he was police. the real police told the wanna be cop to leave my friend alone, go home and sober up and wear his helmet as he didn't have one.

just as told to me this morning and i see no reason for my friend to lie as he is a gentle soul and doesnt bother anyone. dont know but maybe the wanna be cop was just trying to translate. scary .....

[davethailand]

Personally I don't care if they are there or not. In the twelve years I lived in Pattaya and during all the subsequent visits I have never needed the assistance of a translator or a policeman, real or cardboard cutout, whilst out on the town. Having said that I can see the need for some kind of translation service to go between the police and the tourists although what language they should translate to is open to question. However there can be no need, nor justification, for these guys to don uniforms nor even patrol at all. They should be on a roster to be on call by the police when their services are needed.

So had there been a "Yes, but not in their current guise" option I would have voted that way.

However what I find strange is the very strong opinions about them expressed here on ThaiVisa. How many board members actually admit to living in Pattaya? Of those that do, how many ever go down Walking Street late at night, or would admit to it? Most board members claim to be whiter than white and purer than the driven snow and would never been seen dead mingling amongst the whoremongers, prostitutes, drug addicts and other low life specimens that infest WS. Yet all these people who have never been down there have detailed knowledge of all the comings and goings, all the dodgy characters and all the venues of the place. I guess they must be amongst those "all knowing, all seeing" race of superbeings that are visiting planet Earth.

Currently I am back in Pattaya every three months and every visit I go down WS late evening at least once, mainly to remind myself why I don't go down WS. During all those times I must have seen these volunteers but, as I stated on another thread, a bunch of guys in fancy dress hardly stand out in the general melee of sights to behold. But you have to give them credit where credit is due. How many of us would be willing to wear such a uniform and be seen out in public walking down the street like some distorted remake of High Noon (as shown in the video clip on another thread)? I'd not be able to stop laughing long enough to do up the buttons.

I'll be the first to answer this one.

I'm on Walking st maybe 5 or 6 nights out of every week in the year, sometimes more and I love walking St on the whole.

My friends are mostly girly bar or beer bar owners as well as having "bargirls " as drinking buddies .

I spend at least an hour whilst i'm in Walking St sitting at a beer bar watching the people going up and down, its one of the great things about the street, watching the different charachters and types of people walking up and down, on the downsides I've seen stabbings, fights, flashing, people being sick, people snogging you name it BUT you can also see that outside every pub back home and also in othet parts of Pattaya, (I've also seen some good things also).

I also see the FTPA patrolling the street which is something they do often, some nights you'll see more farangs assistents, some nights thai, I know a couple of them both thai and farang and always exchange a nod or sometimes a chat whilst they walk by. i've also seen them attend to several incidents and I can honestly say i've never seen them rough up or mistreat anyone, if issues get out of the hand the Thai officers arrive.

As said before some wear smart trousers and polo shirts with the various badges on etc and they come across very well, some wear the equivilent of the 18 hole DM's I had back in the UK for work with combat trousers tucked in, almost SWAT like, they do IMO look a bit OTT but I also have heard that one or two of them are ex forces so OK thats maybe what they are used to wearing but I think what i'm getting at is I reckon there should just be a standard issue uniform that all have to wear and again IMO I find the smart approach much nicer.

Anyway as many have said I actually take my hat off too them as I would never do it and they DO assist tourists and also bar owners so although I actually voted "don't care" it must be a good thing.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

As said before some wear smart trousers and polo shirts with the various badges on etc and they come across very well, some wear the equivilent of the 18 hole DM's I had back in the UK for work with combat trousers tucked in, almost SWAT like, they do IMO look a bit OTT but I also have heard that one or two of them are ex forces so OK thats maybe what they are used to wearing

Great, the "ex-forces" brigade in Pattaya signing up for uniforms.

I don't doubt some are well intentioned or even doing good, but seeing there's absolutely no training involved it's only a matter of time before this goes wrong in a big way.

(Then I'll come on this forum and say "I told you so.", referencing this post. )

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Never seen them in Chiang Mai, Loh Kroi, moon muang etc unless they stick to the nightmarket area that is.

I've seen them in Loi Kroh plenty times. Also having beers with the girls, mind, but as they're not 'real' police but 'translators' I guess that's okay too.

[Lost in LOS]

never seen a translator dressed like that. If they were in a company or the UN do you think they would get past security. Are the handcuffs, pepper spray and baton in case the translation goes wrong. I think some of these guys have good intentions and some are wannabes,, the wannabes are bad for all. if they are just translators and just here to assist why do they walk in packs of farang only, who are they translating to?

[davethailand]

As said before some wear smart trousers and polo shirts with the various badges on etc and they come across very well, some wear the equivilent of the 18 hole DM's I had back in the UK for work with combat trousers tucked in, almost SWAT like, they do IMO look a bit OTT but I also have heard that one or two of them are ex forces so OK thats maybe what they are used to wearing

Great, the "ex-forces" brigade in Pattaya signing up for uniforms.

I don't doubt some are well intentioned or even doing good, but seeing there's absolutely no training involved it's only a matter of time before this goes wrong in a big way.

(Then I'll come on this forum and say "I told you so.", referencing this post. )

Have to say that I think that apart from the ex military members some are ex coppers, that with the training programs that they go on its not fair to say that they are not trained.

I will say that I admire them if they are untrained as there are some handy people out there who I wouldn't want to go up against.

[Pdavies99]

I believe that overall the FTPA do a good job, however they are mis-managed and are effecting work that should not be in there job description.

They should not be congregating in large numbers at the end of walking street, there is no need for this and the uniforms are "over the top"...If they are there to assist the public, then a simple black trousers, white shirt is enough, in particular they should not be wearing police type belts with add on such as handcuffs.

Unfortunately because of the image thay currently project they are dis-liked and looked down upon, which is a dissapointment for them and the public at large.

I wish them luck, they need it.