At a meeting between the Governor, Phuket Police Chief Pol Maj Gen Chote Chavalviwat and all police superintendents at the Provincial Police HQ, Deputy Commander Pol Col Peerayut Karajedee said, “We have already assigned officers to 21 security areas in Phuket. These are six in Patong, three each in Tung Tong, Chalong, and Kamala, two each in Tah Chat Chai and Phuket Town, and one each in Cheng Talay and Thalang.
Sarayut Mallum, Vice-President of the Phuket Tourism Association, seemed disappointed that there was no security zone for Kalim.
He pointed out that there were no police in Kalim, and told the meeting, “I have lived [in Patong] for a long time. I think the Kalim area should also have a security zone and CCTV cameras, because this is a high-crime area.”
The Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, Pol Col Jirapat Phoachanapan, replied, “Kalim is a sensitive area. We already have a plan to establish a police presence.
“When I solve problems in this area it will not only be through the power of policemen to arrest people, but also through the application of psychology.
“We know that Baan Kalim is high-crime area. We have already surveyed the area. Most of the drug dealers are low-level. But we already have a security plan [for Kalim].”
Gov Maitree said, “We have to respond to the Government’s target of B2 trillion in tourism income by 2015. Security is therefore the first priority for Phuket.
“At the moment, there are 1,419 CCTV cameras in Phuket. I will ask the government for the budget to buy the additional 2,000 cameras.”
He asked the police to provide him with a proposal on paper that he could pass on to Bangkok to support an application for funding.
“I will wait for the proposal from Col Peerayut,” he said. “When I get it I will sign it and send it to the Government as soon as possible.”