My wife told me yesterday a Policeman came around and wanted a photo of me,they came last year i think,and got a photocopy of my passport and i showed him my marriage visa,which i renewed in March,i am just wondering has this happened to any other members,i have done nothing wrong,but these sort of things tend to make one a little uneasy,also the other day my wifes cousin was involved in an accident,were a motorsai with 4 people on it crashed into the back of his tractor,this policeman was on his way to talk to my wifes cousin when he called by to get the photo,it seems a bit strange thats all,don't want to sound paranoid,but have any fellow members had requests like this,also any constructive thoughts would be appreciated.

Did you ask him why he wanted it?

',i have done nothing wrong,'.......

Thats what they all say....

Did you ask him why he wanted it?

I was not there.

So, it's confirmed: us westerners are such handsome men! Even the local cops want our photo!

Did you ask him why he wanted it?

I was not there.

Hiding out in the basement? (joke)

I wouldn't worry too much, it's for your own safety. You could provide him with information about your health and insurance status, so they could help you in the best way when it should be necessary (accident, etc.). I'm not on FB, but the wife is "friends" there with our local police office. Until now, no photo.

Did you ask him why he wanted it?

I was not there.

Hiding out in the basement? (joke)

I wouldn't worry too much, it's for your own safety. You could provide him with information about your health and insurance status, so they could help you in the best way when it should be necessary (accident, etc.). I'm not on FB, but the wife is "friends" there with our local police office. Until now, no photo.

Thanks for your reply,my wife just confirmed what you said.

',i have done nothing wrong,'.......

Thats what they all say....

Once i did not pay my Television licence in the Uk,i felt quite the desparado for a few weeks.

A couple of years ago three Rhek Thum cops (with guns) came to my door.

We want your passport, make copy bring back.

Uh, no. But out of curiosity, why?

Lots of hemming and hawing and finally one said, Thai men kill farang, and we don't know who they are (farang) and what embassy to call.

Marko....get yourself a Yellow book, if you have a Non O Visa, and a genuine Marriage Cert.....Then they have you on a record for quick identification. They need a base to work from , thats all.

Sometimes they will drop in to have a look at where you live, just to check you are genuine.......

You could provide him with information about your health and insurance status,

So they know how much ransom to demand when they kidnap you.

( Sorry guys couldn't resist)

',i have done nothing wrong,'.......

Thats what they all say....

Once i did not pay my Television licence in the Uk,i felt quite the desparado for a few weeks.

You'll never take me alive copper!

"....get yourself a Yellow book, if you have a Non O Visa, and a genuine Marriage Cert..."

Are you saying you think you need a non O Visa and be married to get a yellow book?.

There was a thread about this not long back.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/700839-scrutiny-by-thai-police/

bugger, you guys must live in pretty crappy places if they need to know who you are in case some thai kills you, ever think of moving somewhere where they dont need to do that crap.

"....get yourself a Yellow book, if you have a Non O Visa, and a genuine Marriage Cert..."

Are you saying you think you need a non O Visa and be married to get a yellow book?.

No !.....just passing my experiences on. I had mine (Yellow Book) before the Non O

Thanks for all the input,sorry i have been offline due to no power for 12 hours,massive storms last night.

He was most likely sent to collect it before you recieved your marriage visa confirmation but since" TIT" he came late.(I have been waiting three years for my private TUK TUK license.)

If the cop comes back, tell him to have the conversation back at the police headquarters. If he's setting you up for something he will most likely stop coming around and realize your on to it. If he takes you to headquarters then you most likely will find out what's going on. Also if you call his bluff you might want to go to the headquarters to talk them about this. I don't think you have anything to worrie about, but you should take charge of the situation as much as you can.

Maybe to squeeze money from you if wife's cousin cannot/won't pay! Police/cops are all the same globally... dough,bread,moolah... )

As I understand it the original need to report addresses within 24 hours was to the local police but with 90 day reporting this largely replaced this. Maybe they just like to know who is around so that if any friends come asking for you they can tell you where you live.

Even in larger towns they do seem to have a local system where a couple of policemen are individually responsible for each area.

Been here 11 years. never had a problem - except one parking ticket. Never asked for passport, yellow book etc. Immigration - not a perfect outing but courteous staff.

But, I am old; dress politely etc - effect?

Maybe to squeeze money from you if wife's cousin cannot/won't pay! Police/cops are all the same globally... dough,bread,moolah... )

Yeah,i had that running in the back of my mind,as there was a fatality involved,and he was driving the tractor at night we is apparently illegal,yet they hit him 4 up on a bike,no licence ,the usual story,it just seemed a coincidence that he came to get it the day he was going to my wifes cousins,but after reading the other responses here,i think that is all it was a coincidence,no way will i be paying for anything like that,he is an okay bloke and would not ask me anyway.

bugger, you guys must live in pretty crappy places if they need to know who you are in case some thai kills you, ever think of moving somewhere where they dont need to do that crap.

Actually, they must live in properly managed locations, because this is what the procedure is.

It's not just for crimes, but the more likely automobile accident or other type of accident. The Bangkok hospital morgues often have unidentified foreigners. It's a good thing for the foreigners who are alone since they can disappear and when the body is found, no one knows who they are.

I believe you will find that many people have been formally verified in this manner. Sometimes the police will do it, or if it is a managed building or compound, the police get the info from the local manager When I was staying in Patong, the manager provided my passport and visa info to the authorities and I only found out much later.

Glad it's all cleared up for you, OP.

My guess is that now that they have your photo, they'll draw a hitler mustache and some horns on it, stick it in the middle of a dartboard and throw darts at it to relieve their frustrations whenever some idiot foreigner calls them up with spurious complaints, like barking dogs or excessive rain, or something.

You have my sympathies.

T

They could be trying to set you up for something and then again they could have a reasonable excuse like just having a record for convenience. Remember Thailand doesn't have the same tradition of protecting civil liberties like we in the west have. They may see their demand/request as nothing out of the ordinary.
But still, I agree, dont give them anything on the spot but get their names/number and take a copy around to the station to give to them. Also perhaps see if you can get them to sign a copy that you keep.

If you really have nothing to hide, just give them the bloody photo

they want to make a scrapbook with all farangs and then there will be a competition, who can get the most $$$ out of them on a regular basis

If you really have nothing to hide, just give them the bloody photo

Some time ago the local policeman who is attached to our Ampur station called around [in uniform] and politely requested information about myself and my status. It was polite because as he had poor command of the English language he had bought along his wife who is a local School teacher and speaks quite well.

Information he/she required was copy of Passport and "Allowed-to -stay-until-****".Copy of Yellow Tabian Bahn. Driver's licence Photo (Could I please bring them to his office at time to suit me") Also took a copy of my fingerprints with a kit he had with him.

This, I was told was to be entered into a register of Farangs living within the Ampur. Several of my friends/acquaintances were also approached and with a few exceptions were happy to oblige.

I thought this was a good programme and I have no qualms about being registered.

This info should be readily available to them via the 90 day report no?