The video, posted online yesterday (Mar 15), shows officers rehearsing a scenario involving an individual armed with a firearm who has taken hostages. The footage was carefully filmed and edited to clearly illustrate the procedures police follow during a crisis and the actions members of the public should take to stay safe.
Patong Police Chief Pol Col Korakrit Khanthakrue stressed that the scenario was a standard police training drill and not a real incident.
He explained that the video was produced specifically to ensure that the public understands both the police response and the correct behaviour expected from civilians if such an emergency were ever to happen.
“The purpose of creating this video is to let everyone know how they should behave if this type of incident occurs,” Col Korakrit said.
“At the same time, it also serves as a training exercise for police officers so they clearly understand the procedures to follow in emergency situations, whether it is a shooting incident or other serious crimes such as robbery.”
According to Col Korakrit, the key objective was to ensure that everyone involved in such situations – both officers and civilians – understands their respective roles.
“The important thing is for everyone to understand their roles and responsibilities, what each person must do and how to act in such a situation, so that there is a shared understanding,” he said.
Unlike most police training exercises, which are typically conducted once and concluded after officers practise their roles, the drill was carried out in stages in order to produce a clear instructional video.
Col Korakrit explained that the scenes were filmed multiple times and edited carefully to create a polished clip that could be easily understood by viewers.
“Normally a drill is carried out once to outline what each person has to do,” he said. “But for this video we filmed each scene shot by shot so that it could be edited into a clip that is easy to understand and communicates clearly to the audience.”
He added that the concept for the video originated within Patong Police itself, with officers aiming to present safety information in a simple and accessible format that could reach a wide audience online.
The superintendent said the production required considerable effort from officers and staff, but was intended to improve public awareness and confidence in police preparedness.
“This video was created as an educational tool to communicate with the public so they will not panic if such an incident occurs,” he said.
“It advises people to study and follow the guidelines presented in the video so they understand how to respond correctly. At the same time, it also demonstrates the training and readiness of officers in handling various emergency situations.”
The initiative also aims to reassure residents and visitors that authorities are prepared to deal with serious incidents should they arise.
Phuket Provincial Police also shared the video, and encouraged members of the public to watch and share the clip so that more people understand the procedures and safety advice presented in the training scenario.
Active shooter response drills have been conducted elsewhere in Phuket in recent years as authorities continue to improve emergency preparedness across the island.
In late 2024, officers from Chalong Police Station staged a similar training exercise at Robinson Lifestyle Chalong to practise coordinated responses to a simulated armed attacker inside a shopping mall.
Police say such exercises form part of ongoing efforts to ensure officers are ready to respond quickly and effectively to serious incidents while also helping the public understand how to react safely in an emergency.