Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Phuket Police Banished in Dispute Over Gun

Phuket Police Banished in Dispute Over Gun

Monday, December 14, 2009
ABOUT 200 volunteers protested at Phuket City police headquarters on Saturday, accusing seven police of beating up three volunteers.

The fighting allegedly took place earlier that day when officers took exception because one of the volunteers was carrying a handgun.

One of the police asked the volunteer why he was carrying the gun, according to reports. The volunteers involved in the dispute said they were beaten and kicked when there was no need for violence.

The three men radioed other volunteers all over the island, who assembled at Phuket City police headquarters about 4pm, and spent the next three hours there.

The volunteers met with Phuket police chief Major General Pekad Tantipong. He contacted Region 8 and organised to have the three officers transferred off Phuket immediately, as the volunteers had demanded.

Thai volunteers work with regular police, the Army and the Governor, fulfilling all kinds of roles, much as the Tourist Police volunteers work with regular officers.

The volunteers are a vital ingredient in policing Phuket because the island has only 1100 regular officers to cope with a population that balloons to a million or more in the high season months.

Because Phuket's needs are calculated on the basis of the 320,000 registered voters, all of the services and infrastructure on the island are inadequate for its true population.
More in Phuketwan's Comprehensive Coverage

Phuket Crackdown: Police Shut Patong at 2am
Latest Phuket police are enforcing the 2am closing law at bars and nightclubs in Patong, leaving tourists wondering about their choice of holiday destination. Businesses are struggling to survive.
Phuket Crackdown: Police Shut Patong at 2am

Phuket's Big Budget Boost for Twin Projects
Economic Analysis Phuket has the funding officially now for two large projects it needs: the airport expansion and the conference and sport centre. But a bit more would certainly help, thank you.
Phuket's Big Budget Boost for Twin Projects

Phuket Mystery As Tourist Dies After Kata Swim
Latest A man who took a swim at a Phuket beach returned to his lounge chair and then suffered an attack of some kind that proved to be fatal. The cause of death remains a mystery.
Phuket Mystery As Tourist Dies After Kata Swim

MediaWATCH: Flying Arms Cache Crew Arrested
Phuket News Digest North Korea arms charges; Thaksin back in Cambodia; Tiger, who knew?; Berlusconi bopped; Climate crackdown plot; Tsunami warning worries; US subs coming.
MediaWATCH: Flying Arms Cache Crew Arrested

Phuket Greets, Meets New Immigration Chief
Latest Up to 15 percent of Burmese crossing into Thailand at Ranong have not returned, a meeting of senior Immigration officials on Phuket has been told by their new chief.
Phuket Greets, Meets New Immigration Chief

Phuket and Tuk-Tuks Need a Transport Strategy
News Analysis/Opinion Tougher, more competitive times lie ahead for Phuket. Destinations that solve problems will succeed. To have a prosperous future, Phuket needs a transport strategy.
Phuket and Tuk-Tuks Need a Transport Strategy

Phuket's Big Buddha Can See: Photo Special
Photo Special Corruption, greed and environmental destruction. Honesty, courage and hope. Phuket's Big Buddha now has eyes and can see the island for the first time.
Phuket's Big Buddha Can See: Photo Special

Phuket Temple Farewell Set for Ben Richards
Latest Popular young Phuket expat Ben Richards is to be farewelled by friends in a ceremony on Tuesday, with a second remembrance planned at his home in Australia later in the week.
Phuket Temple Farewell Set for Ben Richards

Phuket Air Crash: US Report Blames Pilots
Latest A report on a 2007 air crash on Phuket, said to be by the US National Transportation Safety Board, has been posted online by a relative of one of the 90 victims.
Phuket Air Crash: US Report Blames Pilots

Phuket Jetstar Boosts Singapore, Sydney Flights
Flights Fly High Flights to Singapore and Sydney from Phuket increase dramatically until Chinese New Year as Jetstar unleashes plan to offer the holiday island to the world.
Phuket Jetstar Boosts Singapore, Sydney Flights

AirAsia to Link Phuket Daily Direct to Isarn's Heart
Phuket Isarn Daily AirAsia goes hub to heart with a new service that will fly direct and daily from the holiday island to the Islarn provinces that many island residents call home.
AirAsia to Link Phuket Daily Direct to Isarn's Heart

MediaWATCH: Gay Couple Win Thai Tourism Gig
Phuket News Digest Contestants to report on Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Samui chosen; Thaksin backers protest; Farewell for Phuket diver; Tiger Woods, home or away.
MediaWATCH: Gay Couple Win Thai Tourism Gig

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

While the police acted out of order and over the top, the idea that volunteers think its OK to break the law and carry their own guns around is just crazy.

Posted by LivinLOS on December 14, 2009 12:56

gravatar

Who are these volunteers and what kind of training do they have? Why have I never heard of them before?

Who is their boss? What liberties do they have? Good on the police. Breaking the law is breaking the law.

Posted by Vfaye on December 14, 2009 17:15


Wednesday October 9, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter