Phuket Police's 300 boost Bangla red-light security

[webfact]

Phuket Police's 300 boost Bangla red-light security
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- In a mass show of police strength, more than 300 officers gathered in Phuket’s famed red-light district of Soi Bangla in Patong on Saturday night in the government’s latest campaign to bolster tourist safety on the island.

Led by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, the officers patrolled the bars with an eye to keeping the peace, on the lookout for any troublemakers.

“Tourists need to have confidence that Phuket is a safe place, so we are staging raids from July 1 to July 15 to boost security,” Governor Maitri said.

“The Thai Government wants to increase revenue from tourism, and Phuket is among the top five tourist destinations in Thailand, along with Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Samui,” he said.

The show of 300 on Saturday followed 100 officers staging similar raids on Friday that netted at least seven suspects who failed on-the-spot urine tests.

Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan separated the officers into four teams. The officers set up a drug-test checkpoint on the beach road and raided nightclubs, internet cafes and karaoke bars.

“Our focus is on drugs, illegal workers and children under 18 years old working in nightclubs,” Col Chiraphat explained.

The random drug tests led to the arrests of seven persons found to have used narcotics, said Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat.

“Three were at a nightclub on Soi Bangla, and four were at a karaoke bar on Phang Muang Sai Kor Road,” he confirmed.

“We are conducting tests on any people we suspect of using drugs, whether they be motorists driving down the road or people partying in a nightclub,” he said.

“We are also checking work permits and passports of foreigners,” he added.

Governor Maitri welcomed the security boost.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s the low season or not, every season must be safe for tourists,” he said, ”especially since the number of tourists is rising.”

Governor Maitri pointed out that from January to June this year, tourist arrivals were up 19 per cent over last year.

“Making Phuket safe will make tourists happy and help to inspire more visitors to return,” he said.

Additional reporting by Thawit Bilabdullar

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-Police-s-300-boost-Bangla-red-light-security-21575.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-07-08

[KarenBravo]

So.....in the interests of safety, I presume there will be 300 police officers there every night.

[epicstuff]

It should read in massive show of oppression..

Tourist want extra vigilance on muggings in the periphery areas or taxi / tuk tuk rip offs and jet ski scam. not drug busts .. This just makes everyone paranoid.. It would scare more people than assure them.

[laurentbkk]

If the police are or the authorities continue to check on people at night venues for sure they will go in other places , who wants to be controlled during a nice evening on holidays ?

[laurentbkk]

So.....in the interests of safety, I presume there will be 300 police officers there every night.

that 300 were only for the press , they now went back to some office and sleeping duties

[Songhua]

He forgot to add, '... as a temporary and knee-jerk reaction to recent visits and issues raised by more than twenty ambassadors'.

[Songhua]

So.....in the interests of safety, I presume there will be 300 police officers there every night.

Keep presuming KB (but expect a degree of disappointment)

[CiaranO]

Normally a raid on an establishment is kept secret - but not here - its always good to inform the criminals when you will be coming

[KarenBravo]

The criminals get their moneys-worth here.....................

[eezergood]

Nothing like 300 last night!

[pistachios]

Is it supposed to make tourist feel safe when policemen can kill or extort money as they wish without facing prosecution?

[lee b]

well we all know now where the police will be raiding ! 555

[JetsetBkk]

Did they spot any "slow lorises" or other endangered species being paraded around?

No?

Didn't think so.

[lovetotravel]

Having 300 more corrupt and above the law police won't instill any more confidence with the tourists. If anything, it might scare them more!

[Emdog]

hmmm seems like 300 just increase the odds some cop may decide to blast someone with impunity. Foxes watching the henhouse.... it's all face, and I just can't face it....

[upena]

Another fine show by the Thai Police that accomplished nothing.

[Pinot]

Useless waste of time. The Guv just making a gesture to placate the long line of ambassadors knocking on his door. In a few days the ladyboys on beach road will be back to ripping off the late night drunks, the tuk tuks will continue their thieving ways, same same. Cheers.

[johnlandy]

So.....in the interests of safety, I presume there will be 300 police officers there every night.

Whether there is or not, the only reason that they are now doing anything at all is because many ambassadors visited Phuket and told the governor and the police chief to get their collective shyt together

[Halion]

A pathetic and meaningless act in response to rising critisisim and also as a desperate show of overt control in order to gain the F1 venue.

[merijn]

The BIB on a nice night out in town. 555

It is part of the feel safe campaign which will last until 15 July, after this everything back to normal.

[KarenBravo]

Seems that the Thai police just don't understand. If a new measure is implemented, it has to be implemented 24/7, 365 days of the year.

Implementing things for anything less than this just shows that there is no commitment and that it is yet another futile exercise in attempted "face-saving" which fools no one.

Edited July 9, 2013 by KarenBravo

[terryp]

so none of the UK Cocaine dealers/users/pushers were arrested?...Amazing as they all hang out in that area

[eezergood]

so none of the UK Cocaine dealers/users/pushers were arrested?...Amazing as they all hang out in that area

they all seem to have taken the week off!

[belg]

new concept, policemen in every bar for YOUR protection

oh, i forgot, they already are there, they own and run the place and all extra activities

[JulesMad]

So.....in the interests of safety, I presume there will be 300 police officers there every night.

Dream on, baby

[KarenBravo]

So.....in the interests of safety, I presume there will be 300 police officers there every night.

Dream on, baby

Oh dear. Ever heard of sarcasm?

Maybe TV should add a sarcasm emoticon.

[JetsetBkk]

so none of the UK Cocaine dealers/users/pushers were arrested?...Amazing as they all hang out in that area

they all seem to have taken the week off!

After they realised that the first couple of dozen BiBs weren't buying, they decided to wait for the governor's entourage to return to Phuket town.

[LivinginKata]

So.....in the interests of safety, I presume there will be 300 police officers there every night.

Dream on, baby

Oh dear. Ever heard of sarcasm?

Maybe TV should add a sarcasm emoticon.

I use this one or perhaps

[pomchop]

“Our focus is on drugs, illegal workers and children under 18 years old working in nightclubs,” Col Chiraphat explained.

But we will continue to ignore the tuk tuk and jet ski mafias, the NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT of tourists.

[jpduggan]

The show of 300 on Saturday followed 100 officers staging similar raids on Friday that netted at least seven suspects who failed on-the-spot urine tests........ So it took 100 officers to catch 7 who failed the drug test. Oh My God.How many did the 300 on Saturday net ...10?