PHUKET: Hundreds of extra police will be posted to Phuket in a remarkable change in approach that will create an efficient ''Phuket model'' and set new standards among Immigration officials, too.
''If you are in Immigration and you don't know how to smile, you will be out,'' Thailand's top cop told a Phuket City meeting today.
The national police budget for 2014 would guarantee Phuket the extra police it has been seeking for years, Thailand's Chief Commissioner, General Adul Saengsingkaew, said today.
Increased numbers, a uniform upgrade, English language skills and a service mentality would all become part of the new Phuket police force, he said.
''Phuket will be the first place in Thailand to set up an organised system where Royal Thai Police, immigration officers, Tourist Police and Marine Police all function in a coordinated fashion,'' Commissioner Adul said.
''The whole police organisation will be operating together with the same standards across the entire force.''
The move of Region 8 Police Headquarters from Surat Thani to Phuket would give Phuket hundreds of extra police, he said.
Phuket currently operates with about 1100 officers - 350 per shift. The additional numbers will for the first time give Phuket the capacity to cope not just with 320,000 registered residents but with hundreds of thousands of other residents, immigrant workers and tourists.
''Security and safety will be achievable aims on Phuket,'' he added, promising to assign a Deputy Commissioner of Police to oversee the Phuket upgrade.
With the additional manpower will come replacement vehicles, equipment and technology to modernise the Phuket force and expand its 10 cramped police stations.
''I will come down here often,'' said the chief commissioner, speaking to officers from across all law enforcement divisions on Phuket.
An annual evaluation of all officers - beginning in October - would mean that police who did not behave professionally would be tranferred out, he said.
That included Immigration officers who could not smile, he said.
''Phuket police numbers will be boosted as a matter of course with the arrival of Region 8 headquarters,'' he said.
Today's new police deal capped a week of surprises. Phuket administrators, the Department of Special Investigation, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and police appeared to have finally developed the muscle to deal with Phuket scams, rip-offs, extortion and tuk-tuk and taxi issues.
''If you are in Immigration and you don't know how to smile, you will be out,'' Thailand's top cop told a Phuket City meeting today.
The national police budget for 2014 would guarantee Phuket the extra police it has been seeking for years, Thailand's Chief Commissioner, General Adul Saengsingkaew, said today.
Increased numbers, a uniform upgrade, English language skills and a service mentality would all become part of the new Phuket police force, he said.
''Phuket will be the first place in Thailand to set up an organised system where Royal Thai Police, immigration officers, Tourist Police and Marine Police all function in a coordinated fashion,'' Commissioner Adul said.
''The whole police organisation will be operating together with the same standards across the entire force.''
The move of Region 8 Police Headquarters from Surat Thani to Phuket would give Phuket hundreds of extra police, he said.
Phuket currently operates with about 1100 officers - 350 per shift. The additional numbers will for the first time give Phuket the capacity to cope not just with 320,000 registered residents but with hundreds of thousands of other residents, immigrant workers and tourists.
''Security and safety will be achievable aims on Phuket,'' he added, promising to assign a Deputy Commissioner of Police to oversee the Phuket upgrade.
With the additional manpower will come replacement vehicles, equipment and technology to modernise the Phuket force and expand its 10 cramped police stations.
''I will come down here often,'' said the chief commissioner, speaking to officers from across all law enforcement divisions on Phuket.
An annual evaluation of all officers - beginning in October - would mean that police who did not behave professionally would be tranferred out, he said.
That included Immigration officers who could not smile, he said.
''Phuket police numbers will be boosted as a matter of course with the arrival of Region 8 headquarters,'' he said.
Today's new police deal capped a week of surprises. Phuket administrators, the Department of Special Investigation, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport and police appeared to have finally developed the muscle to deal with Phuket scams, rip-offs, extortion and tuk-tuk and taxi issues.
"''If you are in Immigration and you don't know how to smile, you will be out,'' Thailand's top cop told a Phuket City meeting today"
Someone should tell Phuket Town Immigration about this quote :)
Posted by miklas on August 10, 2013 17:36