PHUKET: Phuket will soon have mobile police in ATVs patrolling the beaches and more officers on bicycles protecting foreshores, Phuket's Police Commander, Major General Pachara Boonyasit, told a meeting today.
The ATVs are to be funded by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation - along with 29 million baht for more security cameras around the island and an extra 32 million baht for 80 powerful light stands to illuminate dark area at beaches and at crash blackspots on Phuket's roads.
The new commander was rolling out his plan to safeguard the whole island more thoroughly.
Phuket had just one police officer for every 640 residents and tourists, so there was a need to be alert and proactive.
''We want to make everything as secure and perfect as we can this coming high season,'' he told the meeting at Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters.
It was important in the light of problems with the Koh Tao murders and ebola to have just one spokesperson responding on big issues, he said.
''On most big issues,'' he said, ''that job belongs to the governor. If it's a matter involving security, ask me.''
He said he had been to all municipal councils asking them to spend emergency funds on security cameras now, not to wait until next year.
''Phuket's Safety Zone concept has worked well and will be expanded to 30 more areas on the island,'' the commander added.
An additional mobile team would be part of that expansion, he said.
The new ATV and bicycles concept for patrolling the beaches would be launched on November 11, he said.
''Officers in those patrols will become skilled in rescue work and resuscitation too,'' he said.
As part of its big spend, the PPAO would add 70 security cameras in Patong, and 19 each in Karon and Phuket City.
The 191 emergency number now worked around the clock on Phuket and callers would not find anyone on the other end diverting them to local police stations, he said.
The comment that ''Phuket has police but they are not working'' cut to his heart, the commander added.
''Anyone who finds a police officer not working, call me straight away,'' he said.
The ATVs are to be funded by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation - along with 29 million baht for more security cameras around the island and an extra 32 million baht for 80 powerful light stands to illuminate dark area at beaches and at crash blackspots on Phuket's roads.
The new commander was rolling out his plan to safeguard the whole island more thoroughly.
Phuket had just one police officer for every 640 residents and tourists, so there was a need to be alert and proactive.
''We want to make everything as secure and perfect as we can this coming high season,'' he told the meeting at Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters.
It was important in the light of problems with the Koh Tao murders and ebola to have just one spokesperson responding on big issues, he said.
''On most big issues,'' he said, ''that job belongs to the governor. If it's a matter involving security, ask me.''
He said he had been to all municipal councils asking them to spend emergency funds on security cameras now, not to wait until next year.
''Phuket's Safety Zone concept has worked well and will be expanded to 30 more areas on the island,'' the commander added.
An additional mobile team would be part of that expansion, he said.
The new ATV and bicycles concept for patrolling the beaches would be launched on November 11, he said.
''Officers in those patrols will become skilled in rescue work and resuscitation too,'' he said.
As part of its big spend, the PPAO would add 70 security cameras in Patong, and 19 each in Karon and Phuket City.
The 191 emergency number now worked around the clock on Phuket and callers would not find anyone on the other end diverting them to local police stations, he said.
The comment that ''Phuket has police but they are not working'' cut to his heart, the commander added.
''Anyone who finds a police officer not working, call me straight away,'' he said.
So as ATVs cannot legally be road registered is the good commander going to explain how these ATVs will move from place to place without breaking the very laws they are supposed to enforce ??
Posted by LivinLOS on October 27, 2014 17:47