New Pattaya Police Chief Begins Promised Clean-up of City

Published : March 09, 2010 :: 12:03:55 [ 1,761 views ]

Tourist safety is among the highest priorities of the new Pattaya Police Commissioner as he enlists the aid of army of baht bus and taxi drivers to keep a vigilant watch on potential crime.

Pattaya, 9 March, 2010 [PDN]: Police Colonel Nanthawut Suwanla-ong, Pattaya ‘s new Police Commissioner, his deputy and their team held a meeting with 200 Baht Bus and motorbike taxi drivers at Cesar Palace Hotel, Pattaya 2nd Road, to concentrate on implementing tourist safety measures and crime prevention.

Police Colonel Suwanla-ong announced to the gathering his alarm at the recent rise in crimes in the Pattaya region, particularly those involving theft, snatch and grab and robbery in general, especially as it affects tourists. Accordingly, the Police are doing their utmost to improve tourist protection, specifically by enlisting the help of over 10,000 baht bus and motorbike taxi drivers, who, being at the grass roots level, have a great part to pay in this new crime prevention campaign, by remaining constantly vigilant, reporting crimes and even preventing them before they happen. As an inducement, rewards of up to Bt2,000 per case are being offered, particularly if the culprits are successfully prosecuted.

The Pattaya Police Commissioner also pointed out that research has indicated the significant role that drug-taking plays in crime commission, due to the constant need to find the wherewithal to buy expensive drugs. As a result, urine testing will be stepped up to identify drug users; the results to be used subsequently as evidence in prosecutions or rehabilitation treatment as and where necessary.

The Pattaya Police Commissioner, who was interviewed recently by PDN’s editor-in-chief, also passed on the message to foreigners living or visiting Pattaya that they should pay more attention to their motor bikes, whether hired or their own, as regards self-vigilance. He said it would be a good idea if they took photos of their bikes to make for easy reporting, identification and follow ups in the event of theft and to always lock and park them properly. Police Colonel Suwanla-ong also wishes to warn foreigners that any drink and drive offenders will be dealt with severly, including being arrested if the case merits it.

Comments

happy Mc fadden

said :

Phew, i will re book for pattaya, now i am safe in the knowledge that these local pillars of virtue & honesty the baht bus boys, and motor cy taxi men are there at all hours to serve and protect us.It ll be a safer pattaya i come into now.My God this is great. Who polices the police? yet more crooks! Only carry what you can afford to lose, pay bar, and spend out for a decne t hotel with decent security.this is pattaya, you might need it!

Email : happy@disney.com Date : 2010-03-11 04:07:47

PDN TEAM

said :

Oh that we lived in an ideal world, where all the citizens of the Earth were self-actualizing, self-motivated and above all, true to their higher selves. It’s become so trendy to criticize the Boys-in-Brown that many tar them all with the same brush, giving none the opportunity to set a worthwhile example. This is the case with Pattaya’s new police chief. He is at least trying to set things right, and he doesn’t necessarily have to have paid for his post! Let’s give the poor guy the benefit of the doubt.

Granted he’s not got the best material to work with in the Baht bus and motorcycle taxi drivers, a good few of whom, one must admit, are self-seeking petty criminals themselves, run by the local mafia. By enlisting their aid as vigilantes, he’s handling a two-edged sword, though at least it’s a step in the right direction.

Perhaps the first move should have been to licence the taxi-vigilantes properly and make them accountable, once the local mafia opposition to their vested interests had been overcome, of course. Then insist on safe driving techniques, with strict penalties for infringement. Penalties for willfully ripping off tourists should also be another measure. Perhaps more severe penalties for the psychotic brigade should also be considered. To give a personal instance, I returned to Pattaya after a lengthy stay in Bangkok and was unaware that the Baht bus fares had gone up. When asked to pay 20 Baht for what I remembered as being a 10 Baht fare, I refused and the “illegitimate individual” reversed his Baht bus and almost ran me down! Nowadays, they have photos and contact details on the passenger side of the cab window, so complaints can at least be made to the authorities, if one is still breathing after their essentially unprovoked assaults, that is.

Let’s have your personal reminiscences and thoughts on the matter.

Email : news@pattayadailynews.com Date : 2010-03-10 12:36:15

Jethro Tull

said :

He would be better thought of if he took a positive stance on the way the baht bus' operate - never have I seen such an unruly mob of bandits. They cause more accidents and congestion than any other single mode of transport in the town.

Email : papagary1@hotmail.com Date : 2010-03-09 20:43:35

Robert

said :

Get the "working girls"off the
beach,they are the ones who dump,all their food and drink
garbage all over the place,would save money on paying people to clean it up
every morning,and stop most of
the thefts.

Email : goforbobbangkok@yahoo.com Date : 2010-03-09 20:43:27

Max

said :

Too funny, criminals watching out for criminals employed by criminals.

Email : symies@terra.es Date : 2010-03-09 20:42:58

jim wilson

said :

So what there saying is,no Thai people drink and drive here.
They should concentrate on teaching there citizens how to drive properly full stop.
It's a joke having a go at foreign drivers.Although there are many who do drink and drive.Thai people can't drive,don't know how to,never have,and never will.
That's what causes more or less all the accidents here.
Concentrate on that you numpty!and why are you asking the help of the baht bus drivers???most of them are out there nuts anyway.And are allowed to do whatever they like on the streets of Pattaya.It would not be allowed anywhere else in the modern world.
They stop wherever they like,pull out whenever they like,a joke so it is..

Email : tattie280143@yahoo.com Date : 2010-03-09 17:33:35

Harry

said :

Meet the new boss...

Email : Harry@hatred.com Date : 2010-03-09 17:29:43

Chris Nui

said :

And he assured the baht bus drivers and motorcycle drivers, that in return for their help, they could go on with extorting money from unknowing tourists.

Email : chris@bang.net Date : 2010-03-09 17:19:09

Eirik

said :

How much did he pay for his position ?
Rumours will have it to that the previous Pattaya Police Commissioner payd 20 million bath for his position.

I guess crime does pay, at least if you are one of the "good" guys.

Email : es@hotmail.com Date : 2010-03-09 17:09:10

Hugh Jorgan

said :

Great to see that Pattaya is beginning to clean up its act. How about introducing an on-the-spot fine for Baht Bus drivers who drive badly.

Email : hjorgan@yahoo.co.th Date : 2010-03-09 15:45:50

Bob

said :

The motorcycle taxis are generally OK, but the baht buses are one of the greatest menaces in the City. They should do something intelligent such as providing baht bus stops and ban them from stopping in the middle of the street to pick up or discharge passengers. At least half of the many accidents I've seen in Pattaya have either been involving the baht buses or caused by people trying to get around them while they selfishly and stupidly block the road.

Email : rradeski@yahoo.com Date : 2010-03-09 13:20:37

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