Southern police reinforcements still on hold

PHUKET: Provincial Police are still waiting on reinforcements from the Deep South despite the request already having been approved by Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Bangkok, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch has told the Gazette.

Gen Decha said that last year he requested 150 police officers to be sent from Police Region 9, which comprises Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Trang and Phattalung provinces.

“The Royal Thai Police approved the request and ordered Police Region 9 to send the extra police to Phuket before January 5, but I’ve still had no word from Region 9 headquarters,” he said.

“I think the arrangement will be good for both us and Police Region 9 as it will give Region 9 officers a chance to relax from the stressful situation in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

“It will not be a permanent move, just a temporary measure to assist us as Phuket is always short of police. The population here is higher than the island’s police force can handle,” he explained.

“If we have a number of police officers in proportion to the true population then we will be able to cover all problems and have a higher success rate in solving cases. The best way to solve the problem would be to register all of the people who live in Phuket, especially the people who come from other provinces. This will benefit both them and the police,” Gen Decha said.