Phuket Gazette Readers’ Poll: CCTV won’t help

PHUKET: Most Phuket Gazette readers believe new CCTV cameras won’t make any difference in the fight against crime, according to the results of our latest readers’ poll.

The poll was prompted by the news that the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization is going to spend 17 million baht on 53 new CCTV cameras in and around Phuket Town.

We asked readers whether they thought the scheme would make the island any safer.

Of the 722 people who voted in the poll, almost two-thirds (63.9%) thought not.

Those readers agreed with the statement, “It won’t make any difference. There are already many CCTV cameras on the island and they haven’t been effective in the fight against crime.”

Thai nationals were more pessimistic over the plans than expat residents and tourists.

Almost four-fifths of Thais (78%) agreed with the statement above, compared to 65% of expats and 48% of tourists.

The second most popular response to the poll was to give qualified support for the CCTV scheme, but with a shift in geographic focus.

Just over a quarter of readers (27%) agreed with the statement, “CCTV cameras are a good idea, but they should have started in parts of Patong and Karon, especially where tuk-tuk drivers congregate.”

This position was more popular with expats (30%) and tourists (33%) than Thais, just 17% of whom were in agreement here.

Finally, only 9.1% of readers overall gave full support to the expanded CCTV coverage. Those readers agreed with the statement, “It’s a great idea that will reduce crime for a minimum investment.”

While just 6% of Thais and 5% of expats supported this statement, 19% of tourists did.