THE GOVERNOR, Niran Kamlayanamid, called a crisis meeting today over security at the Tatchatchai checkpoint.
With at least one known assassin carrying out a hit on the island then escaping, the governor expressed alarm about that murder and rising crime rates.
He called senior officers from the various services that man the large new checkpoint to Provincial Hall today for a summit.
Three vice-governors, Police Major General Apirat Hongtong, chief of the island's Royal Thai Police, chief officers from Kathu, Thalang and Phuket City, the Marine Police chief, the head of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the chief of Immigration, the Customs chief and the Tatchatchai police chief were present.
Staffing the checkpoint has become a matter of debate between police and other uniformed services.
Just who is responsible for overseeing the people who come and go to Phuket each day by road?
From now on, the meeting decided today, responsibility for the checkpoint lies with General Apirat and Vice Governor Tree Aukaradeat.
General Apirat returned to Phuket two months ago from a stint working in Ranong and promised to reduce crime levels.
However, he told Phuketwan after today's meeting that his plans have been frustrated.
''It will be easier to lower the crime rate on Phuket now that we can run the checkpoint efficiently,'' he said.
General Apirat plans to make daily visits to Tatchatchai to ensure standards are maintained.
The motorcycle assassin-style murder of businesswoman Komkai Kositkoon last month attracted the attention of senior police in Bangkok.
Khun Komkai died in a hail of bullets as she drove her car through Kathu, not far from the Kathu district office.
Her husband, Khun Araya, survived. He was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket with one bullet in his ribs and three in an arm.
Police believe the killing was carried out by a professional who has since left the island.
Related Article:
Comeback Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
With at least one known assassin carrying out a hit on the island then escaping, the governor expressed alarm about that murder and rising crime rates.
He called senior officers from the various services that man the large new checkpoint to Provincial Hall today for a summit.
Three vice-governors, Police Major General Apirat Hongtong, chief of the island's Royal Thai Police, chief officers from Kathu, Thalang and Phuket City, the Marine Police chief, the head of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the chief of Immigration, the Customs chief and the Tatchatchai police chief were present.
Staffing the checkpoint has become a matter of debate between police and other uniformed services.
Just who is responsible for overseeing the people who come and go to Phuket each day by road?
From now on, the meeting decided today, responsibility for the checkpoint lies with General Apirat and Vice Governor Tree Aukaradeat.
General Apirat returned to Phuket two months ago from a stint working in Ranong and promised to reduce crime levels.
However, he told Phuketwan after today's meeting that his plans have been frustrated.
''It will be easier to lower the crime rate on Phuket now that we can run the checkpoint efficiently,'' he said.
General Apirat plans to make daily visits to Tatchatchai to ensure standards are maintained.
The motorcycle assassin-style murder of businesswoman Komkai Kositkoon last month attracted the attention of senior police in Bangkok.
Khun Komkai died in a hail of bullets as she drove her car through Kathu, not far from the Kathu district office.
Her husband, Khun Araya, survived. He was taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket with one bullet in his ribs and three in an arm.
Police believe the killing was carried out by a professional who has since left the island.
Related Article:
Comeback Police Chief Promises Crime Free Phuket
