“We are moving here because Phuket plays an important role as a seashore province of the Andaman Sea [coast] and Thailand,” he said. “The new HQ in Phuket is going to make the Phuket more secure.”
The large three-floor office complex, considerably bigger than the current Provincial HQ in Phuket Town, is just south of the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint, and sits on some 160 rai of land.
Apart from offices it will have accommodation for police, a sports field and a helicopter pad.
“We have been building it for almost a year now. I expect the structure to be finished around the beginning of next year, and once it has been fitted out, we should be able to move in around the end of the year.
“Three hundred officers will move in once the building is completed. We may also bring some Phuket officers who are currently working in Surat Thani back to Phuket to work from the HQ.”