Thai police urge patience as lack of equipment hampers bomb probe

[Credo]

The basic problem is lack of training. The biggest problem, however, is sheer laziness. They rely on CCTV instead of actual police work. CCTV is a part, one part, of actual police work. They need to get off their rear ends and start policing on a regular, constant basis.

This will result on a 'crackdown' which will last a month or so and then everything will be back to normal.

[NickJ]

That money earmarked for Special Equipment was spent on way more important things..........

[Langsuan Man]

The Thai Royal Police have no problem in seeking training from outside sources, they do have a problem with accepting that fact in the glare of publicity

The US Department of State, along with the Thai Royal Police, and other foreign governments, pay for and sponsor the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok, which provides additional training for law enforcement personnel

http://www.state.gov/j/inl/c/crime/ilea/c11280.htm

[MK1]

It's ironic that police are prepared to pay a reward for an arrest result but not prepared to pay for new equipment such as facial-recognition software that would lead to a arrest result. The reactive approach is preferred against the proactive one, it would seem, due to the pay later reward policy approach.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I'm waiting for the RTP to announce that someone's dog ate their CCTV footage....

[isopax]

Amazing so much bashing going on in here.

But was thinking about a thing here today, wouldnt it be fairly easy to track the phone records ? they know the exact time of both blasts and guess it would be a call with a special signature ( calling, phone dead instantly ).

That ofcourse if it was done by a call, guess it could also have been a internet packet and not a call, which probably would make it impossible to track.

[coulson]

It's ironic that police are prepared to pay a reward for an arrest result but not prepared to pay for new equipment such as facial-recognition software that would lead to a arrest result. The reactive approach is preferred against the proactive one, it would seem, due to the pay later reward policy approach.

Accurate facial recognition units should be mounted at almost eye level to be effective. It is not common to have these out in busy uncontrolled public places due to easy vandalism and difficult maintenance. Even if they were mounted at every street corner, these guys would have surveyed the scene based on minimal coverage before carrying anything through.

I'm personally surprised, considering the tourist site, nobody in the public has any go-pro (10fps) or walking selfie stick footage from an iphone or equivalent that could be handed over (and likely more useful than the pixelated footage we've seen already)

[casindonet]

Didn't they use their magical GT200 on this case?

[ikke]

Foreign police forces can probably only offer help to the Thai government after approval from their government. Afterall we are still under a NCPO installed NLA and government. Democratic governments dislike cooperating with juntas and so, allegedly that is.

"General Prayut also turned down UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond's offer to assist in the investigations. "Do you want foreign countries to intervene in every issue? No country will do this. It is a breach of sovereignty ... There is no need to get outsiders involved. They are welcome to give advice, but they can't take part in the investigation because it happened in Thailand.""

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bangkok-blast-prime-minister-prayut-chan-ocha-spurns-uk-help-plays-down-uighur-link-1516217

Could be also that the current gov. is involved, as they needed a good excuse for the down-spiral of the economy and tourism.

In that case they would never allow any outsiders to look into it.

It would also explain the much to quick clean up of the crime scene ........

And last but not least, they have the knowledge and the material .....

[rubl]

Foreign police forces can probably only offer help to the Thai government after approval from their government. Afterall we are still under a NCPO installed NLA and government. Democratic governments dislike cooperating with juntas and so, allegedly that is.

"General Prayut also turned down UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond's offer to assist in the investigations. "Do you want foreign countries to intervene in every issue? No country will do this. It is a breach of sovereignty ... There is no need to get outsiders involved. They are welcome to give advice, but they can't take part in the investigation because it happened in Thailand.""

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bangkok-blast-prime-minister-prayut-chan-ocha-spurns-uk-help-plays-down-uighur-link-1516217

you are contradicting yourself Britain (and other countries) offered HELP and were turned down, as you quoted, it's not about "democratic governments disliking cooperating" they wanted to HELP but the Junta, you support, turned this HELP down

Tjeez, you mean democratic countries actually offer help to a junta ?

BTW 'help' and 'assistance' are not the same and neither is equal to 'observing'. Legally active participation of foreigners in an investigation also requires a base in laws.

[rubl]

Foreign police forces can probably only offer help to the Thai government after approval from their government. Afterall we are still under a NCPO installed NLA and government. Democratic governments dislike cooperating with juntas and so, allegedly that is.

"General Prayut also turned down UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond's offer to assist in the investigations. "Do you want foreign countries to intervene in every issue? No country will do this. It is a breach of sovereignty ... There is no need to get outsiders involved. They are welcome to give advice, but they can't take part in the investigation because it happened in Thailand.""

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bangkok-blast-prime-minister-prayut-chan-ocha-spurns-uk-help-plays-down-uighur-link-1516217

Could be also that the current gov. is involved, as they needed a good excuse for the down-spiral of the economy and tourism.

In that case they would never allow any outsiders to look into it.

It would also explain the much to quick clean up of the crime scene ........

And last but not least, they have the knowledge and the material .....

Thank you for your contribution. I will file it with the "9/11 Insider Job", "NASA Moon Deception" and "the JFK answer".

[off road pat]

Foreign police forces can probably only offer help to the Thai government after approval from their government. Afterall we are still under a NCPO installed NLA and government. Democratic governments dislike cooperating with juntas and so, allegedly that is.

"General Prayut also turned down UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond's offer to assist in the investigations. "Do you want foreign countries to intervene in every issue? No country will do this. It is a breach of sovereignty ... There is no need to get outsiders involved. They are welcome to give advice, but they can't take part in the investigation because it happened in Thailand.""

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bangkok-blast-prime-minister-prayut-chan-ocha-spurns-uk-help-plays-down-uighur-link-1516217

You're quote,.."Democratic governments dislike cooperating with juntas and so, allegedly that is."....is wrong,. all governments constantly do business with undemocratic governments, selling arms and so on.....and the funny part is there is so much proof of this on the net......!

Best regards...

[elgordo38]

Hint to Somyot: Special thought processes FIRST. Special procedures second. Special equipment third.

NOT hosing down the site before all evidence is collected would have produced the trigger mechanism, which is sadly absent from the forensics now.

I have a Ouija board I would be glad to lend them complete with instructions.

[BoristheBlade]

After they finish usind the CCTV enhancement equipment, they should send it down to Koh Tao.

[jaywalker]

RTP investigative equipment.

[NongKhaiKid]

It's a new week so we ready ourselves for a new load of official BS !

I wonder if it will have been prepared over the weekend or will officialdom rely on the their ability to talk spontaneous crap on a day to day basis ?

[AZBill]

Another excuse. If you are going to get away with such a bombing anywhere in the world, Thailand is the place! Worst police force anywhere!

[MaiChai]

Me thinks the RTP have been outsmarted. If you are going to carry out an attack like this you would be well organised. For example, change your appearance afterwards, leave country shortly afterwards, don't leave any clues behind. Then the big question: motive.

[lannarebirth]

It's ironic that police are prepared to pay a reward for an arrest result but not prepared to pay for new equipment such as facial-recognition software that would lead to a arrest result. The reactive approach is preferred against the proactive one, it would seem, due to the pay later reward policy approach.

When clearing Thai Immigration, whether it be at the airport or a land border, foreigners are asked to look into a digital camera. This is presumably to create a photographic record of that person or to match that photo against existing records.

If they don't have facial recognition equipment in place, then whatever is this exercise about?

[willyumiii]

"Thai police urge patience as lack of equipment hampers bomb probe"

Agree,

A lack of quality up to date CCTV cams comes to mind.

I did notice yesterday that the police told "the malls" that they need to get better CCTV cams and install them properly.

Is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black, or what?

Catching shoplifters vs catching murdering bombers....pick your priority!

[gk10002000]

We use a fantastic IR camera here at work. Incredible resolution. the image looks like an old fashioned black and white tv but with fantastic resolution. It might as well be a visual camera, the image is so good You can buy them off the shelf.

[arrowsdawdle]

This Somyot fellow seems way over his head.

And apparently over budget, if you believe the balloon just floated.

[arrowsdawdle]

The junta is complaining about not having what they need. Have they forgotten that they are in control of everything including the public coffers?

[oneday]

"...because they have shortage of some the modern equipment like police in foreign countries to find the prime suspect captured on security camera..."

Plenty of other countries that do have this equipment have offered to help, but "no", Thailand is too proud to accept assistance.

[LannaGuy]

Foreign police forces can probably only offer help to the Thai government after approval from their government. Afterall we are still under a NCPO installed NLA and government. Democratic governments dislike cooperating with juntas and so, allegedly that is.

"General Prayut also turned down UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond's offer to assist in the investigations. "Do you want foreign countries to intervene in every issue? No country will do this. It is a breach of sovereignty ... There is no need to get outsiders involved. They are welcome to give advice, but they can't take part in the investigation because it happened in Thailand.""

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bangkok-blast-prime-minister-prayut-chan-ocha-spurns-uk-help-plays-down-uighur-link-1516217

you are contradicting yourself Britain (and other countries) offered HELP and were turned down, as you quoted, it's not about "democratic governments disliking cooperating" they wanted to HELP but the Junta, you support, turned this HELP down

Tjeez, you mean democratic countries actually offer help to a junta ?

BTW 'help' and 'assistance' are not the same and neither is equal to 'observing'. Legally active participation of foreigners in an investigation also requires a base in laws.

he makes up the 'law' as he goes stop making excuses for arrogance, racism and nationalism when countries have offered help with VASTLY more experience than Thailand who now says it doesn't have the "equipment" and they admit (GASP!) it is 'hampering' the probe

[bra]

As my grandfather used to say "a bad workman always blames his tools".

[gandalf12]

BIllions of Baht are going to be spent on projects that are not essential yet the Police who need the latest equipment dont have them? Is this a joke or are what I consider as priorities just confused?

[gandalf12]

Cameras are cheap and can go down to just above zero light level. I have done a lot of systems around the world butt Thailand even if they had them probably wouldnt have a dedicated control room where they ar viewed 24/7

Edited August 24, 2015 by gandalf12

[Khun Paul]

I am afraid the chicken has come home to roost. Thainess rules and the public well they are just a hindrance as long as we can continue to offer purile excuses and have at our disposal numerous other excuses that WILL be believed because we ARE THE POLICE then we really do not have to investigate anything. SO WE WONT.

[toybits]

Have you ever seen a dog chase its tail?