Pattaya police staged another one of their Beach Road sweeps of suspected prostitutes and transgender pickpockets which, as usual, had big media coverage but very little actual effect.
About 50 women and transvestites were rounded up Oct. 12 and brought to Pattaya Police Station where photographers and camera crew were waiting. With most of them shielding their faces, the genuine and transgender women wrote out their personal information, signed a statement and paid a 100-baht fine before being released, likely to return to their previous beachfront perches.
Pattaya police performed another beach roundup Oct. 12.
Local police told the media the sweeps were necessary to preserve Pattaya as a family-friendly tourist destination and prevent crimes on the Beach Road promenade.
Sweeps take place on a nearly monthly basis but have done nothing to curb the loitering and prostitution population in the city.
