PHUKET: Based on the island's real population of one million or more, Phuket needs 5000 police officers, says the Commander of Phuket Police, Major General Chote Chawanwiwat.
''I have told the government that 5000 officers is the minimum that Phuket requires,'' he said in an interview with Phuketwan.
''When tourists, people from other parts of Thailand and Phuket's illegal and legal laborers are included, 5000 is a realistic number.''
The present Phuket contingent of about 1200 police is based on a registered population of about 320,000 people.
Commander Chote said that Patong had more officers than most of Phuket's stations but that all of Phuket's west coast tourist centres needed larger numbers of police.
Patong was at 60 percent of requirement, Chalong at 39 percent, Kamala at 35 percent and Karon at 31 percent of its needs.
''The safety zone project that started in Patong now includes 27 areas of Phuket,'' he said. ''It has made a considerable difference in many places.
''Patong is a special case because people there are not particularly interested. But others fortunately take a different attitude.''
He said he had been approached by a group of Thais and expats on behalf of busisnesses in Chalong's Soi Ta Ead.
''There are a variety of businesses and they were keen to set up a safety zone,'' the commander said.
''I went down there to have a look. We are only too happy to help any group that wants to set up a neighborhood safety zone.''
Commander Chote gave some figures to put the level of expat crime in context. He said the number of incidents was being controlled as the safety zone system rolled out.
Expat Murders on Phuket
2010 three 2011 two 2012 two
Foreigners Arrested on Phuket 2012
Total 193 mostly for, in order, drugs, drinking and fighting, drinking and driving.
Expat Victims of Crime on Phuket 2012
Rape two Violent crimes 13 attempted robbery 13 fraud 46
Expat Deaths on Phuket 2012
Total 81 Accidents 17 Drownings eight murder two suicide 11 illness 43.
''The government has set a big target for the revenue it hopes to achieve from tourism on Phuket so, in the interests of protecting its investment, providing more police would be a wise decision,'' Commander Chote said.
''I have told the government that 5000 officers is the minimum that Phuket requires,'' he said in an interview with Phuketwan.
''When tourists, people from other parts of Thailand and Phuket's illegal and legal laborers are included, 5000 is a realistic number.''
The present Phuket contingent of about 1200 police is based on a registered population of about 320,000 people.
Commander Chote said that Patong had more officers than most of Phuket's stations but that all of Phuket's west coast tourist centres needed larger numbers of police.
Patong was at 60 percent of requirement, Chalong at 39 percent, Kamala at 35 percent and Karon at 31 percent of its needs.
''The safety zone project that started in Patong now includes 27 areas of Phuket,'' he said. ''It has made a considerable difference in many places.
''Patong is a special case because people there are not particularly interested. But others fortunately take a different attitude.''
He said he had been approached by a group of Thais and expats on behalf of busisnesses in Chalong's Soi Ta Ead.
''There are a variety of businesses and they were keen to set up a safety zone,'' the commander said.
''I went down there to have a look. We are only too happy to help any group that wants to set up a neighborhood safety zone.''
Commander Chote gave some figures to put the level of expat crime in context. He said the number of incidents was being controlled as the safety zone system rolled out.
Expat Murders on Phuket
2010 three 2011 two 2012 two
Foreigners Arrested on Phuket 2012
Total 193 mostly for, in order, drugs, drinking and fighting, drinking and driving.
Expat Victims of Crime on Phuket 2012
Rape two Violent crimes 13 attempted robbery 13 fraud 46
Expat Deaths on Phuket 2012
Total 81 Accidents 17 Drownings eight murder two suicide 11 illness 43.
''The government has set a big target for the revenue it hopes to achieve from tourism on Phuket so, in the interests of protecting its investment, providing more police would be a wise decision,'' Commander Chote said.
"Total 81 Accidents 17 Drownings eight murder two suicide 11 illness 23."
And the other 20?
Posted by larry on March 12, 2013 13:56
Editor Comment:
Our mistake. make that 43 deaths from illness.