A FEW tourists in Patong's last night did the right thing . . . they saluted Phuket's array of police, firemen and volunteer helpers.
Probably more for the benefit of the Thai media than any other reason, a large group of representatives from a variety of uniformed groups turned out in Soi Bangla.
There was quite a line-up: Patong regular police, Patong volunteer police, Phuket Tourist Police, Phuket volunteer tourist police, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Patong tessaban, the Patong tessaban volunteers, Marine Police, Highway Police, Tourism and Sport Ministry, Patong firemen, Patong Hospital, and the Kusoldharm Foundation.
Forgive us if we have overlooked anyone, but the array of uniforms was daunting.
Vice Governor Treerayut Eamtakul oversaw proceedings. He heard Patong police chief Colonel Grissak Songmoonnark tell the assembled media that serious crime had dropped in Patong because of co-operative efforts to contain it.
As far as we could tell, there was no cameraman from 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand' among the media. The reality television series, screened in Britain earlier this year and apparently on-sold to mainstream television in Australia, highlighted the pitfalls for tourists in Thailand.
Volunteer forces, combining the expertise of people from many countries with Thai police and officials, are apparently reducing the number of crime cases in Phuket's most lively resort destination, according to the colonel.
He said that Patong police station now relies on 50 expat volunteers . . . but they still have a vacancy or two for Russian speakers.
Not far from where the colonel spoke, a large list showed how many bars the Patong area now contains. The bright lights glittered all around.
Then it was over, and with a handshake from a bemused tourist or two, the men and women in uniform dissolved into the night.
Probably more for the benefit of the Thai media than any other reason, a large group of representatives from a variety of uniformed groups turned out in Soi Bangla.
There was quite a line-up: Patong regular police, Patong volunteer police, Phuket Tourist Police, Phuket volunteer tourist police, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Patong tessaban, the Patong tessaban volunteers, Marine Police, Highway Police, Tourism and Sport Ministry, Patong firemen, Patong Hospital, and the Kusoldharm Foundation.
Forgive us if we have overlooked anyone, but the array of uniforms was daunting.
Vice Governor Treerayut Eamtakul oversaw proceedings. He heard Patong police chief Colonel Grissak Songmoonnark tell the assembled media that serious crime had dropped in Patong because of co-operative efforts to contain it.
As far as we could tell, there was no cameraman from 'Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand' among the media. The reality television series, screened in Britain earlier this year and apparently on-sold to mainstream television in Australia, highlighted the pitfalls for tourists in Thailand.
Volunteer forces, combining the expertise of people from many countries with Thai police and officials, are apparently reducing the number of crime cases in Phuket's most lively resort destination, according to the colonel.
He said that Patong police station now relies on 50 expat volunteers . . . but they still have a vacancy or two for Russian speakers.
Not far from where the colonel spoke, a large list showed how many bars the Patong area now contains. The bright lights glittered all around.
Then it was over, and with a handshake from a bemused tourist or two, the men and women in uniform dissolved into the night.
