Police beef up Phuket security

Phuket’s police authorities have added temporary stations in a bid to restore security for both local residents and tourists. The “temporary” police stations will open 6 December, ahead of permanent police stations that will be built early next year. Phuket provincial Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat said the two new police stations located Wichit and Karon districts would help to rebuild confidence. The Wichit Police Station, south of Phuket City, is in Soi Nasua, while the Karon Police Station is located on the popular west coast bay close to the Karon sports stadium. Phuket will have 10 stations once the two new locations open. Tourism officials often claim safety is being improved through what they call secure zones where there is a stronger police presence. It sounds good in media releases, but the reality is the authorities are transferring police officers from other area in the hope it will discourage opportunistic crime in tourist districts. It leaves other districts vulnerable. There is just not enough police manpower to patrol tourist districts adequately. “Initially, we planned to assign 160 officers at each of the new locations. However, a lack of manpower means we can only deploy 60 to each station.” Deputy Superintendent of Tung Thong police station Lt Col Somkit Boonyarat will be responsible for Wichit police station and Deputy Superintendent of Tah Chat Chai police station Lt Col Thanet Poungmanee will be responsible for Karon police station, the police said.