Call to double Tourist Police ranks

PHUKET: Pol Lt Col Supamit Sukjaroen, Inspector of Tourist Police, Region 5, yesterday lodged an official request with Pol Maj Gen Sanit Miphan, Commander of Thailand’s Tourist Police, for 50 more officers to be sent to bolster tourists’ security throughout the region. If approved, Col Supamit’s request will double the number of Tourist Police officers currently assigned to the region. Col Supamit told the Gazette, “Because Phuket is developing very quickly as a tourist destination, we now have more areas to police, and more tourists to help. “We have just 47 tourist police officers who have to police Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands. In these provinces, tourist police have many areas to patrol, such as bus stations, ports and souvenir shops, as well as Phuket International Airport,” he added. He explained that a greater police presence would deter many criminals from committing crimes. “We receive many complaints from tourists about unfair vendors or fares, and we have to go and help sort out these arguments and help with any misunderstandings between them,” said Col Supamit.