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Senior police from Bangkok are part of the Phuket safety plan

Governor Plans 5000 Cameras for Tourists

Tuesday, July 3, 2012
PHUKET: A network of 5000 security cameras is likely to protect tourists on Phuket before 2013, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha said today.

He was speaking to representatives of Phuket's 19 local administrations - and urging them all to allocate funds for security cameras in budgets to be determined in September.

''We have to reduce the number of thefts and make tourists feel safe,'' the governor told the meeting at Provincial Hall in Phuket City. ''Another murder like the one involving Australian Michelle Smith has to be prevented.''

A telephone call from someone who had contact with the killers enabled Phuket police to quickly apprehend the bag snatchers who stabbed the 60-year-old travel agent when a bag snatch went wrong.

Today Governor Tri said plans to cover Phuket's most popular tourist districts with security cameras would make an enormous difference to Phuket's appeal.

''Phuket is a safe place but our job is to keep making it safer,'' he said. The governor said that his administration was planning to contribute two million baht towards security cameras.

The quality of cameras had improved as costs of cameras had gone down, he said.

He added that action had now begun to bring Phuket's illegal taxis under control, and to end the rip-offs that were also a big source of tourists' complaints.

Comments

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now its time to deliver ....

Posted by chris on July 3, 2012 17:59

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ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS

TALK IS CHEAP...

Posted by nikki on July 3, 2012 18:12

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No number of cameras or police patrols are going to help unless there is a genuine will to protect foreign victims of crime when the suspect is Thai.

Case in Point Mr Trotnow. Assaulted and beat up into coma right across the police booth by a gang of Tuk-Tuk drivers in view of several CCTV cameras and a lot of bystanders. Not one suspect was identified, let alone questioned.

Sure the cameras will make tourists FEEL safe but I'd prefer to see us all actually BEING safe.

Unbiased investigative work by local police is pivotal in achieving justice for all.

Posted by Andrew on July 3, 2012 18:42

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CCTV does not prevent crime, but it may help to solve crime commited!

Posted by Hepp Hepp on July 3, 2012 19:54

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Hepp hepp...

That is not totally true. Cameras could make criminals think twice before doing the crime if they suspect they are monitored. However I understand what you mean, but I still mean they can have a partial effect. At least it is for the better and not for the worse.

Posted by Chris on July 3, 2012 22:03

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This is a good start. However, a more positive police presence: that is, police walking the streets and become aware of what is going on in their assigned neighborhoods would greatly reduce the probability of these crimes.

Posted by Paoa on July 4, 2012 12:31

Editor Comment:

Police on Phuket use motorcycles and that remains the most effective method, except in pedestrian-only areas such as Soi Bangla. As you probably know, there are not a great number of Phuket police.

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London has more CCTV than any other place on earth but that doesn't stop criminality even if they know they're being watched.

Posted by graham on July 4, 2012 18:40

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I do not agree with the premise that motorcycle patrolling is the best option. Nothing surpasses the ability of a walking policeman to get to know his patrolled neighborhood and its inhabitants. His presence ''on the ground'' is both a deterrent to crime and a comfort to citizens. My opinion is that the police are reactive rather than proactive. Proactivity includes getting to know the people, participating in community events, and helping residents develop methods to deter crime. Last Saturday night, on Soi Bangla, I observed a police captain and two subordinates walking. Just out of curiosity, I followed them for approximately one hour - they were walking in a straight line, talking amonst themselves, neither interacting with Thais nor tourists, nor exploring the various sois intersecting Soi Bangla. How is this proactive police patrolling? The assignment of the number of police to a particular district is neither in your control nor mine; it would be prudent, however, to assigned policeman to areas where there had been much report of problems or criminal activity. Just common sense.

Posted by Paoa on July 5, 2012 14:18

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This cameras can also be used to track down the illegal taxis ... just an idea...

Posted by Jakub on September 5, 2012 22:27

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@Jakub
"This cameras can also be used to track down the illegal taxis ... just an idea..."

No, they can't! It's too difficult, to identify the cars, parking in line with the Tuk Tuks, as Black Taxis. Even if the mirrors aren't damaged, and no scratches in the paint on the side.
You think, it will be easier, to identify them on a monitor?

Posted by ??? on September 6, 2012 07:23


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