We help the Thai Tourist Police to do their jobs. That was one of the messages from Wayne Walton, Group Leader of the Foreign Tourist Police Assistance (FTPA) unit in Pattaya, when he spoke to the Pattaya City Expats Club on Sunday, September 29. Foreign volunteers first started helping the Thai Tourist Police in 2002 when some foreigners were invited to assist alongside Thai Tourist Police Volunteers (TPVs) in Walking Street. By 2007, there were 20 foreign TPVs. About that time, they were permitted to form their own unit and named themselves as “Foreign Tourist Police Assistants.”
The mission of the Tourist Police is to serve and protect Thais, foreigners living here and tourists. The goal of the FTPA unit is to assist the tourist and local police in dealing with foreigners. The group undertakes duties in Walking Street with the Tourist Police. It also provides assistance at the Tourist Police Station located on Pratamnak Hill.
PCEC Board member Hawaii Bob (right) welcomes to Pattaya City Expats Club his boss, Wayne Walton, Group Leader of the Foreign Tourist Police Assistance (FTPA) unit in Pattaya.
Wayne described how he became involved with the FTPA. He mentioned that he has an extensive background in policing and security, having worked in various capacities in the UK Metropolitan Police Force and having provided personal security for business executives. When he retired and moved to Thailand a couple of years ago, Wayne needed something to do, so he joined the FTPA unit.
Wayne briefly describes how the FTPA assists tourists who might be victims of theft or assault. Also, tourists who might themselves have perpetrated a crime, or perhaps been drunk or guilty of other misdemeanor; then the FTPA do their best to ensure that the perps rights are not violated.
He began by patrolling Walking Street. Several months later he was promoted to Group Leader by Police Lieutenant-Colonel Aroon Promphan, Commander of the Tourist Police division in Pattaya. Wayne said that Aroon commands the Thai tourist police while Wayne runs the foreign volunteers.
He noted that the assistants are all volunteers; they are not policemen. Whatever authority they have comes from the inspector in the Thai Tourist Police to whom they report. There are currently about 45 foreigners in the FTPA unit. All of them do patrolling, split fairly evenly between daytime and nighttime. The night shift runs from about 9 p.m. to 3 or 4 a.m. Typically, the incidents that they have to deal with are robberies, assaults, drunkenness and foreigners who fail to pay their bills.
He described how new assistants go through three levels of training; even those who have completed all three levels usually work in pairs or in groups of three when patrolling. Also, all of them speak some Thai and a few of them speak it very well.
Collectively, the 44 assistants speak 15 languages. This helps tremendously considering the multitude of nationalities that visit Pattaya. Wayne explained that a lot of work has been done over the last two years to make the FTPA a more credible institution. Assistants have been trained on many topics, including self-defence and knowledge of Thai law. New uniforms were designed look less military. In addition, members of the FTPA have monthly meetings and receive a regular newsletter.
Membership Director Judith Edmonds calls those who might be interested in Classical Music, to form a special interest group of the club. Those interested may sign up at the club, at the Tavern by the Sea, Sunday a.m. 9.30 ~ 12.00
Wayne recounted how the FTPA recently assisted 14 Australians and four people from the UK who, along with four Thai nationals, were arrested for illegal off track betting. Wayne explained that any gambling is illegal in Thailand, with the exception of the national lottery and on-track betting in Bangkok. Wayne said that they assisted the foreigners through their court proceedings and in their dealing with Immigration. It was quite a serious situation because the authorities were considering deporting the foreigners. One of whom had been in Thailand 21 years and had a Thai wife and children. They spoke with the magistrates on behalf of these individuals and the Australian and British embassies also were involved. In the end, the foreigners were fined 500 baht each and released; the FTPA receiving four letters of thanks from the foreigners involved.
Wayne explained that there is another group of foreign volunteers that work with the police stationed in Pattaya Soi 9. He said that the two groups of volunteers perform essentially the same functions but in different areas of the city.
The FTPA recently started motorcycle patrols, Wayne noted. Also, more and more, City Hall is asking the FTPA to assist in some incidents, particularly if they were called for assistance by a foreigner. Wayne said that if a foreigner is detained by the Thai police, he or she has the right to speak to a lawyer, including calling a friend for assistance in finding a lawyer. The foreigner is also entitled to free medical care while in the police station, if needed.
Wayne said that people with Android phones can download a “Tourist Buddy” application. An advantage to using it to contact the Tourist Police, the GPS in the phone will show them where you are anywhere in Thailand. (See https://play. google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vasinno .tourist.fragment.) A similar application is available in the App Store for iPhone users; search for “Tourist Buddy TH.” He also pointed out the telephone number 1155 to call the Tourist Police can also be used to contact an FTPA volunteer. You can read more about the FTPA on their website at: http://www.ftpapattaya.org/.
After Wayne answered several questions from the audience, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg brought everyone up to date on upcoming events and then called on Roy Albiston to conduct the always informative Open Forum; where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand.
To learn more about the Club’s activities, visit their website at: www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
Tony finished off the open forum with a joke for us all.
