Four Phuket police stations upgraded

PHUKET: As part of a nationwide reorganization of the Royal Thai Police Force, Phuket’s four subdistrict police stations have been upgraded to district police stations, effective from an order dating back to January 16, the Gazette has learned.

Col Phuwanart Rithawej, Phuket Provincial Police Superintendent of General Staff, told the Gazette that the order is intended to improve investigation and budget management work, and to prepare for an expected influx of “much-needed” police officers within months.

The order stated that all subdistrict police stations in Phuket were to be upgraded to district police stations, and all their chiefs to be promoted to the position of District Police Superintendent.

Formerly, the chiefs of these stations fell under the authority of the Superintendent of the District Police Station to which they were attached.

The police stations that have been upgraded are Kamala, Tung Tong, Cherng Talay, and Tah Chat Chai. The other four district police stations are Muang, Kathu, Thalang and Chalong.

This brings the total number of district police stations in Phuket to eight and gives all police stations in Phuket district police station status.

Meanwhile, Phuket Provincial Police continue to lobby police headquarters in Bangkok to establish independent police stations for both Karon (currently part of Chalong Police District) and Wichit (under Phuket City Police jurisdiction).

An indication that the initiative has high-level support came on February 26 when Police Region 8 Commander Lt Gen Thanee Thawichsee visited the Karon Community Police Box to preside over the private-sector donation of two new Toyota Yaris vehicles to serve on police patrols in the area.

The vehicles, with a total value of about one million baht, were handed over by Anucha Woranetiwong, a shareholder in the Phuket Kata Resort.