30 of Pattaya’s 35
closed-circuit television cameras are broken, leaving just five in
working order.
Boonlua Chatree
Thirty of Pattaya’s 35 closed-circuit television cameras are
broken, leaving the city’s police force dependent on Family Marts, gold
shops and condo buildings to capture images of crime scenes and traffic
accidents.
Pattaya Police Superintendent Col. Supachai Puikaewkam revealed the
sorry state of the city’s much-ballyhooed security system to Bangkok
Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Maj. Gen. Adul Narongsak during
his March 18 inspection of the city.
Supachai said real-time traffic-monitoring cameras are installed on
Third, Pratamnak, Chaiyapruek, Thepprasit, South, and North roads; on
Soi Siam Country Club, at the Dolphin Roundabout and in front of the Soi
9 police station. However, only five remain in working order.
The police, thus, have to rely on privately-owned cameras when
investigating crimes. Banks and ATMs have the most cameras with 962.
Gold shops have 76 cameras while another 296 are located outside hotels
and condominiums. 7-Eleven stores have 165 cameras and there are 131
outside Family Mart locations.
Following the briefing, Adul inspected the Pattaya station and police
boxes around the city. He said he approved of the service provided to
tourists and the police’s readiness.
