Night Patrols Until Daybreak Along The Beach

[Pattaya_Fox]

BEACH SECURITY DISCUSSED AT PATTAYA CITY HALL MEETING.

khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya chaired this meeting at Pattaya City Hall which was attended by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wootishart, the Chief of Pattaya`s Tourist Police Division and Police Lieutenant Colonel Natasit, the Deputy Chief of Pattaya Police to discuss the Mayor`s concerns over the state of Pattaya Beach late at night. The Mayor suggested that Beach crime had substantially increased and blamed the reduced tourist numbers this year on the poor state of the beach which is used by prostitutes and petty criminals, who will take advantage of the poor lighting on the beach to conduct anti-social activities. The Mayor would now like Pattaya Police along with the Tourist Police to conduct nightly patrols along the beach until daybreak to ensure that crime and prostitution are eradicated.

Pattaya City News

Wednesday 6th September 2006.

[farangsay]

Should be a nice little earner for them !

I mean the overtime pay of course !

[britmaveric]

I wonder for how long???

[Pattaya_Fox]

It`s about time that this was done...Thank you Mr. Mayor.

[suiging]

Always thought when crime began to hit the pockets of the great and the good in the city, things would happen. Small start but hey who knows ?

[nostrel]

the same thing needs doing on Sukumvit road to get rid of the Ladyboy muggers in BKK.

they have been active for years

[mrbojangles]

to ensure that crime and prostitution are eradicated.

It won't get eradicated, it will just move on to somewhere else. Doh

[libya 115]

I think that walking down the Beach Road alone after 11.00pm is dangerous.

I won't be doing it, even if they say there is a police patrol.

Now, if it is Christmas/New Year and the place is buzzing and I am with half a dozen mates, then no problem.

It is all just common sense.

What they ought to do is concentrate on informing the naieve male monger, overweight, drunk, over 50, who thinks that Pattaya is the Land of Smiles and muggings don't happen. It is not just the ladymen thieves, it is the young Thai men on motorcycles, upto their neck in gambling debt and desperate for their next fix of chemicals. They beat innocents to a pulp, without any thought.

Statistically, I know, other world cities are worse, but the crime wave in Pattaya has really worsened in the last year or so. Motorcycle bag-snatching is rife.

Quite often offenders are caught: but are quickly released and re-offend. I reckon that most crime is drug/gambling related.

There is no answer to it really; it is just the same as U.K. inner cities. The sad thing here in Pattaya, is that it has started happening and it is sad.

[nostrel]

same same Phuket , or is it really as bad as they paint?

from the gazette >>

Friday, September 1, 2006

Surge in petty crimes sees 30 police officers transferred

PHUKET: As the island seems to be suffering from a major surge in petty crimes, some 30 police officers have been approved for transfer out of the province in the upcoming annual round of promotions and transfers, on October 1. The main reason put forward by the officers for the transfers: “overworked”.

At his monthly meeting with chief officers on Wednesday, Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura called for Pol Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch, Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, to have police step up their patrols and for officers to be more vigilant.

Gov Udomsak said. “[Police] officers should be ready and on the streets so that when a crime is reported, they can respond quickly.”

Governor Udomsak identified Saphan Hin, Rang Hill and Suan Luang Park – all in Phuket City – as three areas where officers needed to be especially vigilant as they are popular places for the public.

He added that petty thefts weren’t the only problem, and that police needed to step up their action against firearms as well. “If [police] find a person with a gun, they need to double check that the person has a license to own that gun, and whether [he or she] is a police officer or not,” he said.

Maj Gen Decha acknowledged that Phuket’s crime rate has increased but defended his officers, saying that they are understaffed. “We have about 1,000 police officers, but there are so many residents and tourists that we are overworked every day,” he said.

He added that police often received reports up to five hours after a crime occured, and that most thefts were being committed by youths under 18 years old, and because of their young age the law does not allow stern punishments.

Maj Gen Decha confirmed that he has approved transfers out of the province for 30 police officers, most of whom cited “overwork” as their reason for wanting such a transfer.

In return, Gen Decha asked the Governor for stricter controls on people using police band radios that members of the force use to communicate with each other.

“Many gangs have walkie-talkies and listen to the police frequency, so they know what we are doing. Many times we have not caught criminals because they have had time to run away,” Maj Gen Decha said.

[eddy-ham]

“Many gangs have walkie-talkies and listen to the police frequency, so they know what we are doing. Many times we have not caught criminals because they have had time to run away,” Maj Gen Decha said.

Of course the really silly ones hang around to be arrested and then are let off......

In Pattaya on the beach road side why would you ever want to walk along that piece of path, must be the new flowers and plant added to make it look better by the government.

How about making the pavement on the opposite side to beach road bigger ,say 3 meters, reduce the beach road path to a one metre path then we have no beach road problem.........................

that is unless they come over the road and join the Taylors...................nice shirt mister...

[bangsaenguy]

Are Indian tailors only considered petty criminals?

[Mighty Mouse]

I share Britmaveric's thoughts on this......'for how long?'

How many times have we heard of police initiatives to rid Beach Road of kateoys and female service workers.

If there was a concerted effort made by the authorities to clean up Beach Road, the problem would then shift to Second Road.

Better lighting and closed circuit monitoring of Beach Road would be a lot better than periodic foot patrols by police....and over time, a lot cheaper too.

[opothai]

Better lighting and closed circuit monitoring of Beach Road would be a lot better than periodic foot patrols by police....and over time, a lot cheaper too.

simple solution,

BUT would you ever get a simple solution passed by the thai authoroties

[Pattaya_Fox]

Better lighting and closed circuit monitoring of Beach Road would be a lot better than periodic foot patrols by police....and over time, a lot cheaper too.

simple solution,

BUT would you ever get a simple solution passed by the thai authoroties

The security cameras were installed some time ago.

Edited September 9, 2006 by Pattaya_Fox

[barryofthailand]

I walk the beach early every mornibg, and the city hall police, many of them are sitting at different sois reading a news paper, or just chatting. The other day after exercising, I sat by the fountain at Pattaya Klang to see if the prostitution has slowed because of police presents. Business is conducted right in front of the police.

Barry

[think_too_mut]

BEACH SECURITY DISCUSSED AT PATTAYA CITY HALL MEETING.

khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya chaired this meeting at Pattaya City Hall which was attended by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wootishart, the Chief of Pattaya`s Tourist Police Division and Police Lieutenant Colonel Natasit, the Deputy Chief of Pattaya Police to discuss the Mayor`s concerns over the state of Pattaya Beach late at night. The Mayor suggested that Beach crime had substantially increased and blamed the reduced tourist numbers this year on the poor state of the beach which is used by prostitutes and petty criminals, who will take advantage of the poor lighting on the beach to conduct anti-social activities. The Mayor would now like Pattaya Police along with the Tourist Police to conduct nightly patrols along the beach until daybreak to ensure that crime and prostitution are eradicated.

Pattaya City News

Wednesday 6th September 2006.

Just try to imagine a place like Geneva (Pattaya is bigger than Geneva) with "Mayor", "Leutenant Colonel", "Deputy Chief", rulling the setllement with no proper public transport and helplessly looking at the faults from the above post.

[fxm88]

The security cameras were installed some time ago.

The security cameras are there to make sure nothing happens to the one nice house in all of Pattaya.

Who lives in there?

[Mighty Mouse]

Security cameras should be installed along the beach side footpath in fairly close proximity to each other, and would need to be monitored throughout the night.

I guess it would mean digging up the footpath again.

[opothai]

Better lighting and closed circuit monitoring of Beach Road would be a lot better than periodic foot patrols by police....and over time, a lot cheaper too.

simple solution,

BUT would you ever get a simple solution passed by the thai authoroties

The security cameras were installed some time ago.

are they working??

is there enough lighting to see anything???

are there enough in the right areas???

the cost of a correct installation will far outweigh the cost of just a token effort.

i'm sure if it was untertaken in a proffesional way the crime and muggings along this beach would be dramaticaly reduced.

we have seen it in the west and it works and makes the town ceters safer at night, a lot of people did not kike the idea { big brother} but the people who complain have something to hide {maybe}

[bmanly]

I walk along beach road most days too, during the day there are no problems at all. There are security cameras installed all along the beach side public path. They are on poles and each pole is numbered, they were installed mid last year I think. Last year when they were installed I saw the technicians checking them and I could see they were of good quality (similar to those in casinos), however I did not see them checking them at night. Do they work? Is anyone watching them? That would be the easiest way to identify these criminals but why aren't the cops using these? The infrastructure is there, anyone know?

[moo9]

Do they work? Is anyone watching them? That would be the easiest way to identify these criminals but why aren't the cops using these? The infrastructure is there, anyone know?

Two questions....is the infrastructure working? How can you assure, that the one cop who is ordered to watch the screens did not fall asleep? The are just like the security posts in most villages...

[Pattaya_Fox]

The system which was put in is a very good system which comprises of 44 Solaris Domes and 16 Bewator pan and tilt housings.

They are linked to a main control centre and four sub control rooms and monitor the area 24 hours per day seven days per week.

What we don`t know is how many times the camera system has helped the police catch criminals etc.

[Mighty Mouse]

This monitoring system was not there when I last visited Pattaya. ( I missed out on my trip this year. )

It sounds good. I hope that the lighting in the area was also upgraded to accommodate the cameras.

If those police in the control room are anything like the police who were in the Walking Street centre, they'd all be asleep after 10pm.

[popshirt]

Well having taxis available would go a long way to protect tourists. The lack of taxis is one reason I do not like to visit Pattaya.

[Pattaya_Fox]

Well having taxis available would go a long way to protect tourists. The lack of taxis is one reason I do not like to visit Pattaya.

No problem..the baht busses are around all the time....cheap convenient and stop practically anywhere that you hail them

[astral]

In the good old days a walk on the beach at night could be fun.....

Certainly not dangerous.

[Pattaya_Fox]

True...nothing nicer then a breath of sea air as the moon glistens on the lapping waves as cries of "where the ***** are we?" are heard as the merry late night revellers meander between the stacks of striped deckchairs making their way to their next port of call.

[bulmercke]

The beach areas - Pattaya and Jomtien - have got to be the most dangerous areas after dark; particularly on the beach itself. But then again, whether you get attacked or not, all depends on circumstances - whether you're alone - whether you appear to be drunk - whether you appear to be unsuspecting to the dangers - whether you're distracted by a 'companion' - whether you appear to be able to resist an attack and 'look after yourself' - whether you appear to have valuables or money on yourself - whether you arouse jealousy in the 'local' males or not etc. etc.

These beach area attacks have been going on for years - and still they continue.

The Pattaya police are not short on man-power, particularly after dark, and yet these attacks continue to happen. Week in - week out.

WHY?

It either demonstrates complete incompetence on the part of the local constabularly.....or more likely.....they're not too bothered about 'farangs' getting bashed there on a regular basis.

Institutionalised racism within the Pattaya police force?

Edited September 13, 2006 by bulmercke