Police launch new Phuket tourist support project

[webfact]

Police launch new Phuket tourist support project
Zazithorn Ruengchinda


The Phuket Police Tourist Care project in action at Wat Chalong.

PHUKET: -- Tourists being constantly harassed by black taxi drivers has sparked a new “Tourist Care” project on the island, an initiative established by new Police Commander, Maj Gen Ong-arj Phiwruangnont.

The project, which will be ongoing, was launched on October 14 and includes two new patrol vehicles, a brochure drive and a Facebook page.

Pol Lt Col Thummasan Boonsong, the Superintendent of the Police Investigation Division, told The Phuket News the idea stemmed from tourists being harassed by illegal taxi drivers, and facing other problems while on the island.

“We have two new stickered vehicles, one jeep and one van, that will drive around the island. One will drive around the north side, and the other will drive around the south, and during the evening it will be around Bangla Road,” he said.

There are also posters and brochures being distributed in six different languages – Thai, English, Mandarin, Russian, Japanese and Korean – with contact details of who to call if the tourists have any problems.

These are being given out to people arriving at Phuket International Airport and posters are being put up in hotels around the island.

Lt Col Thummasan said, “It is impossible to think that crime won’t happen anymore because of this project. But if criminals see these vehicles and police officers around, perhaps it will make them think twice before doing anything. I think this campaign is good because we are closer to the people who need help.

“Our first case was when a Thai tourist who was visiting from Phang Nga lost her purse on October 23 while at the Tin Mining Museum. She saw the stickered van drive past, and hailed it down. Then the police officers were able to find the purse, which had been dropped in the area.

“For special occasions, like events that have large numbers of people gathering such as sports events or concerts, we will patrol around these areas with the vehicles,” Lt Col Thummasan said.

“Sometimes the tourists don’t know where to seek help. First, they can always call 191 that will reach any police station, wherever they are.

“But they can also contact our officers directly: Pol Lt Col Napat Keawwehol on 091 017 9194; Pol Lt Nakarin Sreeakaravinet 087 955 5677; or myself on 080 718 6858.”

Those wishing to follow the project can visit the Facebook page, “Phuket Police Tourist Care”.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/police-launch-new-phuket-tourist-support-project-42567.php


-- Phuket News 2013-10-28

[soi41]

Instead of fancy and stupid projects like this, what about the police enforcing the law, so the problems wouldn't occur for the tourists in the first place??

Or is that too easy?

[LivinginKata]

'Harassed by black taxi drivers'

How about stopping intimidation by legal taxi drivers.

[madmitch]

Do illegal taxi drivers harrass more than tuktuk drivers, massage shops, bar girls from the plethora of empty bars, tailors, sexy show touts, timeshare touts etc. etc?

No, is the answer, but it's flavour of the month.

I believe the vans are better for Phuket's tourist image than the more intimidating sight of armed police appearing in tourist nightlife areas en masse.

[JoeThePoster]

At least, some good out of this program. Supergirl seems to be getting a free backrub.

Edited October 28, 2013 by JoeThePoster

[NomadJoe]

"“Sometimes the tourists don’t know where to seek help. First, they can always call 191 that will reach any police station, wherever they are."

The times I have called 191, I get Thai speakers only that tell me to call the tourist police at 1155. The times I have called 1155, the number was disconnected.

[harleyclarkey]

Good clean living, honest and helpful cops posing in front of a venerable Wat to show how clean and sincerer they are in ridding the island of just a fraction of the filth.Buddhist

Could they possibly be some of the thugs referred to here on another article today that extort millions per month from honest shopkeepers??

Makes me want to grab the sick bag.

[upena]

More Thai Government solutions that don;t address the problems. Brochures and a Facebook page will do nothing to counter the greed and corruption on Phuket. They can compete with the other worthless Facebook page - Bureau of Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud

[bangon04]

At least, some good out of this program. Supergirl seems to be getting a free backrub.

and now they have put big stickers on the vehicles the tourists will be able to see who the criminals are....

[Emdog]

I hear they are going to stock plenty of hankies to hand out to help the crying tourists cope with "The Thai Way "

[ajarnmarc]

"“Sometimes the tourists don’t know where to seek help. First, they can always call 191 that will reach any police station, wherever they are."

The times I have called 191, I get Thai speakers only that tell me to call the tourist police at 1155. The times I have called 1155, the number was disconnected.

I heard that, and don't even bother to try to call after 8pm for the rest of the evening is supposed to be reserved for relaxing their tired minds,

it would seem.

[webfact]

New Region 8 Police Commander demands crime-free beaches
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- The new Police Region 8 Commander on Sunday demanded that officers in Karon and Patong include beaches in their patrol zones.

“In order for tourists to truly relax and have a good time, they must feel safe, even on the beach,” said Police Region 8 Commander Panya Mamen on his first official visit to Phuket.

In Karon, Lt Gen Panya heard complaints of officer shortages.

“When Karon Police Station was set up in December last year, the plan was to staff it with 103 officers,” said Karon Police Superintendent Weerawat Jantarawichit (story here).

“But we only have 41 officers and five police trainees. Sometimes I have to call in traffic police to help us patrol the area,” Col Weerawat said.

Gen Panya praised Karon for its clean beach and good umbrella management, and acknowledging the officer shortage, promised to ensure that some of the 700 new officers expected to start arriving on the island next month would be posted in Karon (story here).

The general visited Patong next and was escorted down Bangla Road, which garnered international attention after R’n’B celebrity Rihanna tweeted about ping pong shows (story here) and posted images of slow loris on Instagram (story here).

“Everything is fine on Bangla Road, there are no animal touts or ping pong shows operating,” Gen Panya said after his inspection.

At the end of his tour Gen Panya ensured that Phuket would have more police officers, in line with Phuket Provincial Police Commander Ong-art Phiwruangnont’s new slogan: “No mafia, and police everywhere will guarantee a safe holiday on Phuket”.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/New-Region-8-Police-Commander-demands-crime-free-beaches-22653.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-10-29

[Patje]

“Everything is fine on Bangla Road, there are no animal touts or ping pong shows operating,” Gen Panya said after his inspection.

This is clearly a case where the deaf is leading the blind !!!

[clockman]

In his dreams!