PHUKET has asked for 500 to 600 more police because the island's special characteristics as a tourist destination leave it with an unusually low ratio of officers to citizens and visitors.

The request was made this week by Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong to General Wutthi Phuawade, the Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police, who was visiting Phuket from Bangkok.

''Phuket has 320,000 registered citizens and that's what the allocation of police is based on,'' Major General Pekad said. ''However, there are probably twice that number of Thais living on the island, and tourists from all over the world all year long who also need protecting.''

General Wutthi asked Major General Pekad how Phuket coped with its existing 1100 force, and Major General Pekad explained that volunteers were used extensively on neighborhood patrols as part of the ''1000 eyes of the pineapple'' scheme.

But genuine officers were essential for security and safety, said Major General Pekad, who undertook last year to take responsibility for relaying all major incidents involving expats to local honorary consuls or Bangkok embassies.

Today, a batch of expat and resident volunteers will be briefed at Kathu Police Station in Patong as they sign on to alleviate the pressure on the regular force.

Allowing for days off and holidays, Phuket has about 300 police on duty in three shifts, around the clock.

Deputy Superintendent of Region 8, Major General Dechar Boodnampetch, said that it was difficult to provide officers to match Phuket's rapid growth because the other six provinces in the region also needed reasonable numbers.

The total registered population of the region's provinces was 3.8 million, with 11605 officers, a ratio of 1:329. Phuket's real ratio is considerably higher.