THE CRISIS over the low number of police on Phuket is set to continue because of a backflip on the plan to shift the Royal Thai Police command headquarters from Surat Thani.
Relocating the command, with its complement of more than 300 police, was seen as an efficient way to improve the protection of tourists and island residents.
Phuket's leaders unanimously list security as the island's most important priority.
But Lt. Gen. Tanee Tawitsri, Chief of Provincial Police Region 8, told Phuketwan on June 3 that the command headquarters would stay in Surat Thani.
''Surat Thani is more at the centre of the seven provinces in the region we have to cover. Phuket is over to the west and a long way from some places,'' he said.
''Geographically, it makes sense to keep the command where it is now.''
He said that it may be possible to add some officers from Surat Thani to the island's forces in the high season.
A much smaller command outpost was planned for Phuket now instead of the original plan for a major complex, including a training academy, on a 150-rai site at the north of the island.
The collapse of the plan to bring an extra 300 officers will cause unhappiness among the island's existing police chiefs as well as local authorities and tourism groups.
Leaders of the Phuket Tourism Association and the Thai Hotels Association have told Phuketwan recently how important it is to ensure the safety of tourists in a more effective fashion.
Muggings and murders bring bad publicity that undermines the perception that Phuket is a relatively safe destination.
Maitree Narukatpichai, president of the Phuket Tourism Association, told Phuketwan that he was sad to hear that the command headquarters would not be moving.
''Phuket is an important source of income for the whole of Thailand,'' he said. ''If the island is not adequately protected, all that revenue gets put at risk.
''Surat Thani is a pleasant place, but hardly as important as Phuket.''
The ratio of police to island residents is extraordinarily low, even by the standards of exceptionally safe countries, such as Japan.
In any particular month during the high season, more than a million people live, work, and play on the island.
Yet the total number of police is about 1100. The officers work three shifts around the clock, so at any time, allowing for holidays and sickness, there are fewer than 300 police on duty.
Much of what they do is related to traffic control at peak hours and providing escorts for VIP visitors from Bangkok.
The small force is supported by a growing number of CCTV cameras. However, research in other countries indicates the cameras seldom prevent crimes being commited.
The first arrest by a camera or a wanted poster has yet to be made.
Latest sign that police are being stretched beyond common sense comes in the Rawai-Nai Harn region, the Phuket region where late-night muggings have been causing concern.
Saman Chainarong, chief of Chalong police, said that burglars were so brazen now that they were stealing all of the furniture in homes vacated by people returning to Europe for the summer.
''We don't have enough police in this area or any area on Phuket,'' he said.
''People can help by installing CCTV cameras. At least that way, we have a chance of catching the criminals before the furniture disappears.''
Police stations needed to be notified as a matter of course if home-owners were going away for long periods, he said.
One important person sure to be disappointed at the latest setback is Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit. He believes the island desperately needs more police.
''Having the Royal Thai Police Region 8 headquarters here will further cement the island's status as an international city,'' he said, back in October last year when the command HQ plan was announced.
''It will ensure that we have an adequate police presence to provide safety and security for residents and tourists alike.''
Governor Niran said then that the site, in front of the Mai Khao OrBorTor building, was an ideal location for the new headquarters.
Construction was scheduled for completion by the end of fiscal 2008. Royal Thai Police were to provide the budget of 170 million baht.
The proposal to shift the command centre came under the coup government and the decision not to move it has been made by the newly-elected PPP Government.
While Phuket remains an extremely safe destination, isolated incidents of violence frequently become ''crime waves'' in the local media, despite lack of statistical evidence.
Police Region 8 oversees police commands in all seven Upper South provinces: Surat Thani, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Chumphon.
Relocating the command, with its complement of more than 300 police, was seen as an efficient way to improve the protection of tourists and island residents.
Phuket's leaders unanimously list security as the island's most important priority.
But Lt. Gen. Tanee Tawitsri, Chief of Provincial Police Region 8, told Phuketwan on June 3 that the command headquarters would stay in Surat Thani.
''Surat Thani is more at the centre of the seven provinces in the region we have to cover. Phuket is over to the west and a long way from some places,'' he said.
''Geographically, it makes sense to keep the command where it is now.''
He said that it may be possible to add some officers from Surat Thani to the island's forces in the high season.
A much smaller command outpost was planned for Phuket now instead of the original plan for a major complex, including a training academy, on a 150-rai site at the north of the island.
The collapse of the plan to bring an extra 300 officers will cause unhappiness among the island's existing police chiefs as well as local authorities and tourism groups.
Leaders of the Phuket Tourism Association and the Thai Hotels Association have told Phuketwan recently how important it is to ensure the safety of tourists in a more effective fashion.
Muggings and murders bring bad publicity that undermines the perception that Phuket is a relatively safe destination.
Maitree Narukatpichai, president of the Phuket Tourism Association, told Phuketwan that he was sad to hear that the command headquarters would not be moving.
''Phuket is an important source of income for the whole of Thailand,'' he said. ''If the island is not adequately protected, all that revenue gets put at risk.
''Surat Thani is a pleasant place, but hardly as important as Phuket.''
The ratio of police to island residents is extraordinarily low, even by the standards of exceptionally safe countries, such as Japan.
In any particular month during the high season, more than a million people live, work, and play on the island.
Yet the total number of police is about 1100. The officers work three shifts around the clock, so at any time, allowing for holidays and sickness, there are fewer than 300 police on duty.
Much of what they do is related to traffic control at peak hours and providing escorts for VIP visitors from Bangkok.
The small force is supported by a growing number of CCTV cameras. However, research in other countries indicates the cameras seldom prevent crimes being commited.
The first arrest by a camera or a wanted poster has yet to be made.
Latest sign that police are being stretched beyond common sense comes in the Rawai-Nai Harn region, the Phuket region where late-night muggings have been causing concern.
Saman Chainarong, chief of Chalong police, said that burglars were so brazen now that they were stealing all of the furniture in homes vacated by people returning to Europe for the summer.
''We don't have enough police in this area or any area on Phuket,'' he said.
''People can help by installing CCTV cameras. At least that way, we have a chance of catching the criminals before the furniture disappears.''
Police stations needed to be notified as a matter of course if home-owners were going away for long periods, he said.
One important person sure to be disappointed at the latest setback is Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit. He believes the island desperately needs more police.
''Having the Royal Thai Police Region 8 headquarters here will further cement the island's status as an international city,'' he said, back in October last year when the command HQ plan was announced.
''It will ensure that we have an adequate police presence to provide safety and security for residents and tourists alike.''
Governor Niran said then that the site, in front of the Mai Khao OrBorTor building, was an ideal location for the new headquarters.
Construction was scheduled for completion by the end of fiscal 2008. Royal Thai Police were to provide the budget of 170 million baht.
The proposal to shift the command centre came under the coup government and the decision not to move it has been made by the newly-elected PPP Government.
While Phuket remains an extremely safe destination, isolated incidents of violence frequently become ''crime waves'' in the local media, despite lack of statistical evidence.
Police Region 8 oversees police commands in all seven Upper South provinces: Surat Thani, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Chumphon.
