This is in contrast to more than half of Thai respondents, who voted for the installation of more CCTV cameras (28pc) or the use of moral education (25pc) as the best ways to make Phuket safer.
The online poll, which ran from October 24 to November 5, asked: What do you think Phuket needs most to improve safety and security? Original story here.
Possible answers (and percentage of total votes for each) were:
- More CCTV and police volunteers will make Phuket safer. (14 per cent)
- Less policing, and more integrity among its tourists and residents – moral education. (10pc)
- Tougher laws and regulations to deal with criminals and negligent professionals. (20pc)
- Hire more police and/or ensure the police are enforcing existing laws. (41pc)
- Phuket is just fine the way it is – ‘stuff’ happens all over the world, visitors/residents just need to apply more common sense. (14pc)
Strengthening the police force and respective law enforcement was the most popular answer among expats and foreign visitors to Phuket – at 61pc and 35pc of those groups respectively;
Thais, however, were not so convinced this was the solution; only 21pc of them voted for this option.
This is understandable in the context of the sentiments that many Thais have expressed about law enforcement. In a recent poll by Bangkok University, a majority of Thais said they wanted the Royal Thai Police reformed, and corruption – both within and outside the force – to be addressed.
A fifth of all voters in the Phuiket News Poll thought that the Kingdom needs tougher laws to deal with criminals and negligent professionals, but twice as many felt that existing laws are good enough; that the real issue is a shortage of police manpower and a lack of enforcement of the laws.
Lt Gen Decha Budnampeth, recently appointed Commissioner of Region 8 Provincial Police (the Southern Thai Police command headquartered in Surat Thani) would agree. On his visit to Phuket several weeks ago he revealed that, based on Phuket’s registered population (approximately 370,000), the island should have 1,800 officers, but currently only has 1,100.
However, this staffing level does not take into account that the actual population, including all the people who are here on any given day, may be as much as three times the official registered population.
Indeed, the Thai police force is short-staffed throughout the kingdom; the Cabinet is considering reintroducing police conscription to beef up numbers. Story here.
But considering the public's sentiment about police now, and the low police salaries, The Phuket News has to wonder whether increasing the numbers will improve effectiveness of law enforcement or make things worse. What do you think? Leave your comments below.
Please note that due to Thailand’s defamation and computer crime laws, all comments will be very carefully moderated.