The Rim Bung Hall at Pattaya’s famous Nongnooch Gardens was recently the venue for a joint meeting with officers from the Tourist Police Department and Police Volunteers, where it was announced that an initiative will help them to work closer and more effectively in their everyday duties, as well as being of greater benefit to the full time Thai police department.

After a quick welcoming speech by Pattaya’s Mayor, Khun Ittiphol Khunplome, it was over to Pattaya’s Tourism Police Chief, Inspector Major Arun Phromphan, who explained the new initiative, aptly named the ‘Tourist Assistance Project.

The Inspector Major explained the project focuses on ways to encourage the tourist police and police volunteers to become more involved in the training of new recruits. For both forces to become more involved in assisting the regular Thai police officers, especially where language may be a barrier, and to establish an ever increasing presence within the main tourist areas of the city to ensure the safety of visiting tourists and to act as a deterrent for crime.

He outlined that by greater cooperation between the forces, and with the added benefit of support from other local and national organisations, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ministry of Tourism and Sport, and both local and national government bodies, the emphasis can be seen that Pattaya is attempting to clean up its streets and ensure the safety of visiting tourists.