Phuket to sport armed patrol cars for night duty

PHUKET: Provincial Police are currently refitting and upgrading three patrol cars to police known crime hotspots in Phuket in order to enhance tourists’ safety at night during the high season.

“Following the appointment of the new Phuket Provincial Commander, Maj Gen Ong-art Phiwruangnont [story here], we have been instructed to redouble our efforts to improve safety for tourists,” Phuket Provincial Police chief investigator Wanchai Palawan told the Phuket Gazette.

“One of his initiatives regarding this was assigning us to patrol certain areas more vigorously. These areas are Patong, Karon, Rawai, Chalong, Kathu and Phuket Town.

“To this end we are upgrading three vehicles in our existing fleet, and each will carry five officers to patrol these areas from midnight to 6am. The officers will be armed and each vehicle will also carry a high-powered rifle for extreme cases.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong