PHUKET: Thailand's top cop, Chief Commissioner General Adul Saengsingkaew, flies to Phuket by helicopter on Friday to reinforce the message that ''the Big Cleanup'' is underway.
The general and Region 8 police chiefs will visit Phuket's most famous tourist area, the Soi Bangla walking street in Patong, about 9pm tomorrow.
Locals are expected to be on their best behavior.
On Saturday, General Adul will convene a meeting with all of the top police on Phuket, including local police from all 10 stations, Tourist Police, Immigration Police and the Phuket Governor, Maitree Intrusud.
It's expected that the general will reinforce the message that Thailand's Government and the national police are determined to correct Phuket's tourist problems.
The general's arrival will come just a few hours after the Department of Special Investigations and the Ministry of Tourism and Sport establishes the first of two Crime Crisis Centres on Phuket.
The first centre will be at Phuket International Airport and a second centre is likely to open in Phuket City soon.
A campaign combining the resources of Thai police, DSI, Tourism and Sport and local Phuket authorities is aimed at reducing scams, extortionate pricing, thuggery among tuk-tuk and taxi drivers and rip-offs by jet ski operators and motorcycle hirers.
Both the crisis centres are to be staffed by police who will be coming from Bangkok especially to fill the roles here.
The Bangkok police are expected to be able to speak good English, enabling Phuket tourists and expats to approach them with confidence.
The general and Region 8 police chiefs will visit Phuket's most famous tourist area, the Soi Bangla walking street in Patong, about 9pm tomorrow.
Locals are expected to be on their best behavior.
On Saturday, General Adul will convene a meeting with all of the top police on Phuket, including local police from all 10 stations, Tourist Police, Immigration Police and the Phuket Governor, Maitree Intrusud.
It's expected that the general will reinforce the message that Thailand's Government and the national police are determined to correct Phuket's tourist problems.
The general's arrival will come just a few hours after the Department of Special Investigations and the Ministry of Tourism and Sport establishes the first of two Crime Crisis Centres on Phuket.
The first centre will be at Phuket International Airport and a second centre is likely to open in Phuket City soon.
A campaign combining the resources of Thai police, DSI, Tourism and Sport and local Phuket authorities is aimed at reducing scams, extortionate pricing, thuggery among tuk-tuk and taxi drivers and rip-offs by jet ski operators and motorcycle hirers.
Both the crisis centres are to be staffed by police who will be coming from Bangkok especially to fill the roles here.
The Bangkok police are expected to be able to speak good English, enabling Phuket tourists and expats to approach them with confidence.
I'm guessing the hyper-violent pingpong, Loris, and lizard touts will be off the street. This will be a great night for all local expats to do the once a year visit to Bangla to see what it could be with proper enforcement.
Posted by Ryan on August 8, 2013 22:41