RTP launch new year safety campaign with crime crackdown
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has initiated a comprehensive new year safety campaign, aiming to boost public confidence in personal and property safety.
The campaign follows a crackdown on crimes during the Christmas and new year period, reported in a meeting led by Prachuab Wongsuk, Deputy Commissioner-General of the RTP. This meeting was attended by representatives from various police departments, including the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Immigration Bureau.
Nationwide, 695 events were organised, with 258 in Bangkok and 437 in other regions. These included 47 large-scale events. To ensure safety and security, 8,468 police officers were deployed to celebration areas throughout the country. From December 17 to 23, a significant crackdown on various crimes was conducted.
In general crime, police successfully concluded 36,609 cases, arresting 37,574 individuals. Assets worth approximately 114 million baht were seized or frozen. Crimes related to gambling, drugs, immigration, and entertainment venues resulted in 31,036 arrests, with assets worth around 103 million baht confiscated. Specifically, in drug-related crimes, 10,465 cases were resolved with 10,461 individuals arrested and a substantial haul of drugs seized, including approximately 10 million methamphetamine pills and 81.3 kilogrammes of heroin.
Firearm-related crimes saw 1,664 cases closed, with 1,595 arrests. Confiscated items included 10 military firearms, 1,062 unregistered firearms, and 345 registered ones, along with 1,075 explosives and 248 fireworks, amounting to a value of around 5 million baht. Additionally, 3,909 arrest warrants were executed, resulting in 3,807 arrests.
In the realm of cybercrime, financial fraud, illegal online sales, fake news dissemination, child sexual exploitation, and online gambling led to 3,519 cases with 3,490 arrests. The value of seized or frozen assets was approximately 712 million baht. Moreover, under the technological crime prevention and suppression measures, 447 cases were closed with 427 arrests, and assets worth 284,940 baht were seized.
The police have implemented 10 measures to prevent crime and maintain order during the festive period. These include crime sweeps, intelligence gathering, monitoring drug trafficking to tourist spots, and maintaining security for tourists. A special project, Safe Home for Holidays, which runs from December 21 to January 2, encourages public cooperation.
Three enforcement measures are also in place to facilitate traffic, aiming to reduce accidents by at least 5% and increase adherence to traffic laws, particularly against drunk driving. The Metropolitan Police Bureau and Provincial Police Regions 1 to 9 have been instructed to enforce these measures across 71 locations nationwide.
Prachuab Wongsuk emphasized the importance of police dedication during the Christmas and new year period, as people travel home or vacation across regions, and both domestic and international tourists visit. He urged officers to focus on crime prevention, maintaining public order, reducing road accidents, and managing traffic efficiently, reported KhaoSod.
