Phuket Sets Up First 'Safety Zone' In Patong

[webfact]

Phuket's first 'Safety Zone' set up in Patong

Phuket Gazette

Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangkul (left) checks the live streaming video from the CCTV cameras on an iPhone while local businessman Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin looks on. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

‘Prab’ Keesin, son of the Mayor of Patong, points out one of the new CCTV cameras and signs. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- In the wake of several high-profile violent crimes that have rocked Phuket over the past few months, Phuket Police are moving ahead with their plan to set up “safety zones” in key tourist areas, starting with Patong.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangkul delivered the news to more than 800 people from different walks of life in Patong, all gathered at the Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa on July 21. Among those present were representatives from taxi groups, hotel businesses, jet-ski operators and beach umbrella operators.

Joining Maj Gen Chonasit in announcing the plan were Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and the superintendents from every police station in Phuket.

“We are setting up a safety zone in Patong first, and then in Kata-Karon,” Gen Chonasit said, describing safety zones as “zero crime areas”.

The general also laid out his six-point plan in the fight against street crime: “To ensure tourists are confident they are safe in Phuket, we will: 1) set safety zones; 2) be stricter in law enforcement; 3) have more police checkpoints; 4) have more police patrols; 5) use new technology; and 6) work with local people to prevent crimes from happening,” he explained.

The Patong Safety Zone will be bordered by north-south roads Thaweewong Road (the beach road) and Phang Muang Sai Kor Road, and east-west roads Phra Barami Road and Prachanukhro Road.

A total of 100 officers from the Patong Police, Tourist Police, Marine Police and Patong Municipality will patrol the streets and man checkpoints set up throughout the Safety Zone, Gen Chonasit said.

Twelve officers will patrol six small zones each shift, meaning that at any time of the day officers will be able to respond to any incident in their patrol area within minutes, he added.

Separate teams of officers will also patrol the three main roads into Patong: from Patong Temple to the Chinese Shrine atop Patong Hill; from the Laem Petch Circle to the Thavorn Beach Villa & Spa in Kalim; and Sirirat Road, leading to Karon, further south.

Checkpoints will be set up in front of Wat Suwankiriwong (Patong Temple), Kalim Junction (Laem Petch Circle) and at the four-way intersection at Sirirat Road.

“Police will also regularly patrol areas where troublemakers, such as youth gangs and known drug offenders, are known to hang out,” Gen Chonasit said.

SPOT CHECKS

Anyone stopped by officers on patrol are likely to be subjected to a spot check made possible by two mobile ID card reading devices provided by the Phuket Provincial Office.

“The police will know instantly whether or not the people they are checking are wanted on outstanding arrest warrants,” said the general.

There are more than 3,000 arrest warrants still outstanding for crimes committed in Phuket, he explained.

“Most of them are for robberies, but some are for drug crimes and some are for more serious crimes,” he said.

“We also expect more machines to be provided to the police in the future,” he added.

COMMUNITY

Gen Chonasit rated cooperation with local people and business owners as the most important factor in making the project a success.

He explained that police manpower in Phuket was limited, with one policeman per 7,000 people on the island.

“It’s really hard work so police need cooperation from local people,” said one officer.

Police plan to regularly visit communities and discuss problems with local people to try to solve the problems specific to each community.

“I will make Phuket Police serve the people as best they can,” Gen Chonasit said.

THE EYES HAVE IT

A critical contribution to the security effort will be using the public as a collective resource to monitor footage captured by CCTV cameras installed throughout Patong.

“The CCTV monitoring room is still being set up, but we hope to have the system up and running by the end of this month,” Patong Police Superintendent Jirapat Phochanaphan told the Gazette.

Once the system is in operation, anyone will be able to log in and view live CCTV footage through their computers, iPads, tablets and even mobile phones.

“People will need to contact Patong Police Station first to set up a log-in account and password, but after that they will be able to monitor the CCTV footage via their phones from anywhere,” Gen Chonasit explained.

“We want people to help us prevent crime. It would help us a lot, with many people watching CCTV cameras instead of only two police officers watching the monitors.

“We will ask organizations – both private and government – to help fund the costs of installing CCTV cameras in appropriate places. Business operators such as hotels can help us by installing good-quality CCTV cameras in front of their hotels so we can monitor the roads,” he added.

Local Patong businessman Preechavude “Prab” Keesin, who is the son of Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and head of the largest taxi driver association in Patong, said he asked operators of entertainment venues along Phang Muang Sai Kor Road to install a total of 20 CCTV cameras to set up a network that will cost 400,000 baht in total.

By sharing the cost, the bar owners could afford to set up the system. “Some local business owners helped by donating a few thousand baht each, or paying for the installation, which helped reduce the cost for the bar owners,” he said.

Using his mobile phone, Mr Prab showed Gen Chonasit live images from the CCTV cameras already installed and working.

Mr Prab explained that all 20 cameras had been installed two weeks earlier, with 12 already streaming live video and the other eight expected to be up and running within a week.

THE PAYOFF

Gen Chonasit explained plainly that ensuring the personal safety of tourists was a top priority for the government.

“The government plans to boost the number of tourists coming to Thailand with the goal of earning 2 trillion baht in tourism in the year 2015 alone. Phuket made 111 billion baht last year, so Phuket is expected to earn 222bn baht in 2015.

“However, the most important part of this is local people cooperating to provide security to tourists who really need it during their travels,” he said.

“The Safety Zones will be in place until 2015. After then, we will follow up and evaluate how effective they have been.”

In closing the meeting, Gen Chonasit and Patong Police Superintendent Col Jiraphat each donated 100,000 baht to the project.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16565.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-08-01

[draftvader]

So the "six-point plan" can be summarised as a "one-point plan".

"1. Do our job."

[NomadJoe]

"Prab’ Keesin, son of the Mayor of Patong, (and president of the largest taxi/tuk tuk federation in Phuket) points out one of the new CCTV cameras and signs."

Of course he his pleased. To be able to have daddy's cameras selectively and retroactively work or not work depending on whether the footage captured by them shows his drivers partaking in a gang beatdown of a tourists, or exonerates them from false rape charges.

No one is more responsible for the sad state of public transport on this island than these guys.

So where is the link to the streaming video?

Edited August 1, 2012 by NomadJoe

[Shot]

"Prab’ Keesin, son of the Mayor of Patong, (and president of the largest taxi/tuk tuk federation in Phuket) points out one of the new CCTV cameras and signs."

Of course he his pleased. To be able to have daddy's cameras selectively and retroactively work or not work depending on whether the footage captured by them shows his drivers partaking in a gang beatdown of a tourists, or exonerates them from false rape charges.

No one is more responsible for the sad state of public transport on this island than these guys.

So where is the link to the streaming video?

" Once the system is in operation, anyone will be able to log in and view live CCTV footage through their computers, iPads, tablets and even mobile phones.

“People will need to contact Patong Police Station first to set up a log-in account and password, but after that they will be able to monitor the CCTV footage via their phones from anywhere,” Gen Chonasit explained."

If it's true that "anyone" can log in a view live CCTV, then it's a step in the right direction. I just wonder what type of information they will want to set up an account and password.

Edited August 1, 2012 by Shot

[EarthAlien]

Being seen to be doing something worthwhile?.... or could it actually be worthwhile and a step in the right direction?

[tinom]

How would CCTV footage help?

Murder of the aussie travel agent now denies...

[Hamlet07]

Being seen to be doing something worthwhile?.... or could it actually be worthwhile and a step in the right direction?

Yes certainly one hopes ! Edited August 1, 2012 by metisdead
: Use black color font when posting.

[Hamlet07]

How would CCTV footage help?

Murder of the aussie travel agent now denies...

Certainly better than NOT having it ! Edited August 1, 2012 by metisdead
: Use black color font when posting.

[fractrain]

I'm an eternal optimist... but

"In closing the meeting, Gen Chonasit and Patong Police Superintendent Col Jiraphat each donated 100,000 baht to the project."

Individuals whose job it is to enforce the laws... donated their own money to the infrastructure. Interesting.

Edited August 1, 2012 by fractrain

[TackyToo]

"Prab’ Keesin, son of the Mayor of Patong, (and president of the largest taxi/tuk tuk federation in Phuket) points out one of the new CCTV cameras and signs."

Of course he his pleased. To be able to have daddy's cameras selectively and retroactively work or not work depending on whether the footage captured by them shows his drivers partaking in a gang beatdown of a tourists, or exonerates them from false rape charges.

No one is more responsible for the sad state of public transport on this island than these guys.

So where is the link to the streaming video?

CCTV won't prevent any crime it will just document a couple more!

[Felt 35]

“safety zones” in key tourist areas"

Tell it in the tourist brocures that in Patong we have fenched in safety zones where you can go out of your room and smell the fresh sewage but please stay inside of the fench and away from drowning zones,jetski zones,tuk tuk zonez and robbery beat up zonez.

Have a nice vacation.

[NomadJoe]

How would CCTV footage help?

Murder of the aussie travel agent now denies...

What do you mean? The CCTV footage is how they caught them.

[NomadJoe]

"Prab’ Keesin, son of the Mayor of Patong, (and president of the largest taxi/tuk tuk federation in Phuket) points out one of the new CCTV cameras and signs."

Of course he his pleased. To be able to have daddy's cameras selectively and retroactively work or not work depending on whether the footage captured by them shows his drivers partaking in a gang beatdown of a tourists, or exonerates them from false rape charges.

No one is more responsible for the sad state of public transport on this island than these guys.

So where is the link to the streaming video?

CCTV won't prevent any crime it will just document a couple more!

Well...it does act like a deterrent.That can prevent crime.

[steelepulse]

>>Among those present were representatives from taxi groups, hotel businesses, jet-ski operators and beach umbrella operators

Good to see the taxi groups, tuk tuk association, jet ski guys and the police being so concerned. I guess they want to make sure that the cameras placed will show them in a good light seeing as how they are the main groups when it comes to scams and ripoffs being reported.

[Tanaka]

Tuktuks and jetski operators won't be allowed inside the safe zones then? Ahh, I forgot, this is about Phuket.

[phl]

It's all great but why camera's installed so low off the ground and why no security box/cage over it?

Not only its easy to steal/remove , but also easy to move up/down either looking into sky or the ground

[brianb1944]

I'm an eternal optimist... but

"In closing the meeting, Gen Chonasit and Patong Police Superintendent Col Jiraphat each donated 100,000 baht to the project."

Individuals whose job it is to enforce the laws... donated their own money to the infrastructure. Interesting.

If you make your (tea) money in the village, dont hurt to spend some of it there, one wonders how big these donations are relevant to their official salaries.

[paymaster]

“safety zones” in key tourist areas"

Tell it in the tourist brocures that in Patong we have fenched in safety zones where you can go out of your room and smell the fresh sewage but please stay inside of the fench and away from drowning zones,jetski zones,tuk tuk zonez and robbery beat up zonez.

Have a nice vacation.

I assume that the safety zones have tuk tuk access. Tourist to tuk tuk driver. "quick take me to the safey zone before you feel the need to bash me again". Tuk tuk driver to tourist. "Okay but there's a bt 500 non negotiable rescue vehicle surcharge" .

[luckyman]

How would CCTV footage help?

Murder of the aussie travel agent now denies...

What do you mean? The CCTV footage is how they caught them.

It is not just about catching them, it's about preventing these horrible crimes from ever happening again.

The best way to do that, IMHO, is for local police to pull their finger out and start patrolling the streets much more often, on foor by car and on a bike, for example...!

[NomadJoe]

How would CCTV footage help?

Murder of the aussie travel agent now denies...

What do you mean? The CCTV footage is how they caught them.

It is not just about catching them, it's about preventing these horrible crimes from ever happening again.

The best way to do that, IMHO, is for local police to pull their finger out and start patrolling the streets much more often, on foor by car and on a bike, for example...!

Including more foreign volunteers! I wonder the the farang that drives the Fortuner in Rawaii with with red light bar on top and "Tourist Police assistant" written on it has spent 5 minutes "patrolling" any part of Phuket I highly doubt it. I only see him speeding down my soi.

[PoodMaiDai]

Yay. CCTV cams that won't be watched. They did the same thing in Pattaya. They hardly ever use them and over 1/2 of them are said to now be not working.

[ytyt]

Anyone stopped by officers on patrol are likely to be subjected to a spot check made possible by two mobile ID card reading devices provided by the Phuket Provincial Office. “The police will know instantly whether or not the people they are checking are wanted on outstanding arrest warrants,” said the general. ... “We also expect more machines to be provided to the police in the future,” he added.

It's not "anyone stopped," if only two officers of the many on patrol have a special machine. They cannot do this now? How about a cell phone app that every single officer can use to do this? How many seconds would it take to just type in the ID number? We know that at least the police chief can afford an iPhone and its continuing data subscription. Or, not glamorous high-tech, just read the ID to someone at the station over their police radio?

[BigBillsDeli]

Safe is good , but other things to do too!

Like getting them here to keep safe !

Okay , Now please turn Phuket into a duty free port like Langkawi , and bring in the

government or private but supervised gambling, it might be the only way to improve tourism during this economic slowdown time!

.Phuket needs a super boost to draw back our old and gain some new visitors.

If gambling's not coming , then who do they keep building all the new and in - progress construction projects for?

Another good idea would be more effort to be directed at violent criminal elements rather then

non-violent related crimes, maybe even following some countries examples with a legalization of some of these non-violent crimes.

I know that many retirees come here , but how many more would be able to, if certain medicinal products that are being used by seniors were available here , just like in some states in America and some countries.

Time to take away the criminal gang element whose money & power only increases , with prohibitive measures,

only a govt. controlled system can do that.

How about a city bus or better a cable car or tram that just 10 or 20B drives one end of Patong to the other , you hop on and off...keeps people safe from 200Baht tuk-tuk mercenaries !

Edited August 3, 2012 by LivinginKata
reformat to standard text & colour

[Colabamumbai]

Islands always have less crime than their counterparts on the mainland, mainly due to the fact that there is no where to go, you have to leave to disappear.

It looks like they are doing a good thing here. I have never been to Phuket.

Edited August 3, 2012 by Colabamumbai