thai tourist police jobs

Copland - becoming a tourist police volunteer

Tazza joins the thai tourist police as a volunteer.

So, six months after handing in my application to join the Thai Tourist Police Volunteers, I finally received my invitation to a training seminar. What should I expect? Well the initial application stage was fairly impressive. The staff checked my background with the embassy and the Immigration department. I know this because my interviewer said: "Oh you work at [name of my employer] my uncle is a director there". That seem to go down well. Heck, I wasn't even recruited yet and already the nepotism was kicking in!

So with a 5am alarm call, I set off to Sukhumvit soi 5, wondering what I would learn from the boys in brown. The hotel venue itself was very decent, if nothing special. I was ushered into a large conference hall and presented with an information pack. Amongst leaflets and tourists guides there was a booklet that explained how to make a police report. The information itself was solid, but the translation was poor. I wondered how the Tourist Police could produce something like this, but I was about to discover things would get worse before they got better.

The event kicked off with a senior sergeant welcoming everybody and declaring the training session open. Suddenly some music began to blast and we all had to stand up and salute. The expression of the commander in front of me stopped me from smiling. We then began a lecture on the role of tourism in Thailand. There was just one problem - it was all in Thai. There were about one hundred volunteers at the seminar. Less than ten of us were farang, the others were Burmese, Japanese or Chinese. Very few could understand what was being said. Suddenly, a strikingly attractive young woman stood up and said something to a commander at the front. She then walked to the stage and was introduced as both "Miss Chicago" and "Miss Songkran", who would translate for us. And so she did, though I think some of the volunteers were a little distracted from the topic at hand.

After a coffee break, the next lecture was on "national security" and was presented by a lady called Porpharas. Khun Pornpharas was obviously a highly educated lady from an upper class family. Her speech was intelligent and articulate but the topics she addressed covered issues such as economics and the politics of immigration. For me it was interesting, but the body language of those around me told me they knew this was not exactly relevant for police volunteers.

After lunch we had a new officer and a new topic. We were treated to a slideshow of foreign criminals believed to be located in Thailand. It was interesting stuff and I was ready to blast Bob Marley's "Bad Boys" track on my iPod and hunt these guys down, but sadly our beauty queen had gone home and the talk was only in Thai. It was becoming clear now, the senior command in the Thai Tourist Police may be great people and great policemen, but they couldn't speak English. Still, the overall feel of day one was good. This was largely down to a man call Senior Segeant Major Peter, who was almost a one man police force by himself. Throughout the day he had exchanged jokes, wise cracks, banter and pranks with both his fellow Thais and the volunteers. He had broken down the culture barrier and explained why Thailand needed foreign volunteers and how grateful the police were.

Day two began on an interesting note as I was attacked while eating a sandwich at 'Subway' on Sukhumvit by a drunken prostitute who was upset that I wouldn't hand her my sandwich. Sadly, I had not yet received any training that would actually help me deal with the situation. Would today be different? Luckily, the answer was yes. Our first lecture was in English and "Peter" explained to us the different codes that could be used on a police radio. He also threw in a few very helpful names and contact numbers that we could use when dealing with police in general.

The next talk was an exercise in incident reporting. This introduced me to Pierre, the TTP translator who explained how the reporting system should work. After being given some more training booklets, it was time for the "awards" ceremony and some general mingling. I managed to talk with a few senior officers who seemed genuinely friendly, grateful and good natured. I also spoke with a long serving English volunteer who explained how I could receive further training and move "up the ladder" (yes, the volunteers also have a ranking system) starting with the Lions Club convention in Bangkok next month.

So after a few snapshots, receipt of my uniform and a few goodbyes, it was over. The training was interesting. I got to meet some new people from around the world and make some friends in the Thai police. I do feel ready to start, but that is more down to my chance encounter with the long serving Englishman than any of the training I received. But that seems to be Thailand through and through. There is far more focuses on friendliness and welcomes than there is on actual skills training. That might suffice in most professions, but when you doing a job such as police support, you would want something a bit more efficient.

It also worried me that there was literally zero physical based training in the entire seminar. Other than a few questions on the application form about health, physical details and martial arts training, there was no defence involved at all. However, it was clear that all applicants were carefully screened for their own backgrounds and paperwork. This was applied to everybody which I thought was good, though it was clear the Burmese contingent were being given the closest attention. Still, I learned something, met some new people, made some friends and in time I will be able to do a lot to help visitors to Thailand. It was time well spent.

(Tazza has a blog at http://reallifethailand.blogspot.com/ and is hoping Southampton FC don't get relegated this weekend.)

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More Greg Hill articles

Hello Greg, By the date I see I'm pretty late reaching out to you, but hopefully, this gets to you. I'm a policeman in Atlanta and was just in Thailand. I went by the Tourist Police office by the Suvarnabhumi Airport to try and talk to someone about volunteering when I retire here. I was unable to find anyone who would talk to me or provide any information. How did you get your foot in the door and do you have any contact information I can use to reach out to someone? Best wishes and stay safe. John Patton

By John Patton, Atlanta, Ga (27th June 2022)

Hi Greg, Congrats on ur article, very interesting! Although I was hoping to find contacts on how/where to apply? Could you please help me with that? Thanks a lot.

By Antoni, Bangkok (5th August 2019)

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กองบัญชาการตำรวจท่องเที่ยว TOURIST POLICE BUREAU

Tourist Police, Your first friends.

สายด่วน 1155

เชิญชวนข้าราชการตำรวจ​ TO.​ แม่บ้าน​ สมัครสมาชิกสหกรณ์ตำรวจท่องเที่ยว เพื่อออมเงินค่าหุ้น​ เงินฝาก​เพียงกรอกใบสมัคร​ ชำระค่าหุ้นแรกเข้า​ ขั้นต่ำ​ 500 บาท​ ค่าธรรมเนียม​ 100 บาท​ เพื่อรับเงินปันผลทุกปีถ้าสมัครเพื่อออมเงิน ไม่จำเป็นต้องโอนสมาชิกจากสหกรณ์เดิม

ภารกิจผู้บังคับบัญชา

พลตำรวจโท ศักย์ศิรา  เผือกอ่ำ

ผู้บัญชาการตำรวจท่องเที่ยว

ผู้บังคับบัญชา

ประชาสัมพันธ์

ข่าวประกาศและคำสั่ง, ข่าวรับสมัคร, จัดซื้อจัดจ้าง/แผน/ตัวชี้วัด.

กิจกรรม   ของกองบัญชาการตำรวจท่องเที่ยว

ค่านิยมหลักองค์กร.

Service Mind

People Oriented

Overall Fairness

หน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้อง

Royal Thai Police

Fire/accidents/ rescue 199, emergency medical 1669.

Tourism Authority of Thailand 1672

Immigration Police 1178

Department of Tourism   +66 2-401-1111

Ministry of Tourism & Sports   +66 2-283-1500

SHA   1672

Poh Teck Tung Foundation   1418

แอปพลิเคชั่น Tourist Police i lert u แจ้งเหตุฉุกเฉิน "ตำรวจท่องเที่ยว" ตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง 

ดาวน์โหลดฟรี.

Pattaya Tourist Police. The duty of the Tourist Police is to help and care for tourists throughout Thailand. We would like you to enjoy your trip in the Land of Smiles. We can advise tourists about how to take care of themselves, as well as alerting them to some common problems that they should be aware of when travelling in Thailand. Over the past three decades, the tourism industry of the country has grown rapidly. There are more and more foreign tourists every year, bringing in a large amount of revenue to the country. At the same time, problems of crime and manipulation of tourists have been on the rise. The government has set up an organization to be responsible for tourist safety and well-being, in addition to the local Police. Initially, the private sector, in co-operation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand or the Tourism Organization of Thailand, made a special request to The Royal Thai Police concerning tourist safety. The Royal Thai Police consequently set up the Tourist Safety and Convenience Center (TSCC), under the Crime Suppression Division. With a staff of 60 policemen, the center registered complaints, investigated matters, and provided protection and safety for tourists in various places and tourist attractions in Bangkok. At that time, the private sector contributed to the venture by donating vehicles and communications equipment for the Police. Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Police worked on establishing the center as the Tourist Police Division so that it would be a permanent organization, responsible for tourist safety and well-being. The Government approved the proposal, in principle, on 24 November 1976, but there were problems with the budget. the Ministry of Interior was responsible for providing safety and general services for tourists. The Royal Thai Police Department was asked to form the new Police Division which would specialize in dealing with tourists. The Royal Thai Police and the Tourism Authority of Thailand subsequently made some adjustments and changed the TSCC into the Tourist Assistance Center (TAC). The TAC was to provide services to tourists regarding their complaints about crime and manipulation. The TAC’s area of responsibility was also expanded to other popular tourist destinations apart from Bangkok, namely, Chiangmai, Pattaya, Phuket and Hatyai. Later in 1992, realizing the importance of the organization, the Government finally established a permanent Tourist Police Organization at Pattaya - Section 5, Direction Division 8, under the Crime Suppression Division, according to the Royal Decree on the division of Government Organization in the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Interior (the 10th), 2525 B.E. However, with the rapid growth of the Tourism Industry, both in terms of the increasing number of tourists and widespread tourist attractions all over the country, the structure of the Tourist Police Organization at Direction Division Level was not in line with its responsibility to provide tourists with safety and general services. The government therefore changed the Tourist Police Organization to become the Tourist Police Division, under the Central Investigation Bureau, and changed the Section 5, Direction Division 8 into Tourist Police Station 4, Sub-Division 2, Tourist Police Division, according to the Royal Decree on the division of government organizations in The Royal Thai Police, 2548 B.E., and the Ministerial Regulations on the Division of Government Organization or the other name of government organization in the Royal Thai Police, 2548 B.E., which came into force on 1st July 2005. Tourist Police Station 4, Sub-Division 2, Tourist Police Division, is located at 609/1 Moo.10, Pratumnak Rd., Pattaya, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150. Tel. 038 429 371, 038 425 937, Fax. 038 410 044, having the responsibilities in the areas of Chonburi, Samutprakarn, and Chachoengsao Provinces.

ตำรวจท่องเที่ยวพัทยา. สถานีตำรวจท่องเที่ยว 4 กองกำกับการ 2 กองบังคับการตำรวจท่องเที่ยว

70 เมืองพัทยา, Muang Pattaya, Amphoe Bang Lamung, Chang Wat Chon Buri 20150

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Welcome to Koh Chang, Thailand

The Koh Chang Tourist Police wishes you a safe and enjoyable holiday

The Koh Chang Tourist Police Welcomes You!

The Royal Thai Tourist Police Force was established to help protect and serve the needs of foreign tourists visiting Thailand. They are an arm of the Royal Thai Police and often allow foreign nationals to join and assist them as volunteers.

So don’t be surprised if you encounter a foreign Tourist Police Officer.  They are expats who give up their free time to help visitors to Thailand in need of assistance.

Members of the Koh Chang Tourist Police create a link the Thai community and foreign visitors and as such are here to try to ensure that all visitors have a pleasant stay in on the island and elsewhere in Thailand.

They are trained to understand grievances and problems from the tourist’s point of view. However, they will also uphold the law and should not be viewed as a ‘soft touch’ when compared to the foreign community.

What does the Tourist Police do?

The Koh Chang Tourist Police can provide assistance with many things e.g. :

 – In the event of a Criminal Act:  For example, assault or robbery. We can interface with the local police and offer translation services.  Plus help contact relatives and your Embassy if required.

– In the event of a Dispute: We offer assistance with disputes between Thai nationals and foreign visitors.  For example between shop keepers, hotel staff or scooter rental businesses and customers.  In fact, disputes arising over scooter rental and damage resulting from an accident is a common issue we face.  It’s important to remember that it is illegal to ride a scooter unless you have a valid license that allows you to do this in your own country.

– Assistance with scooter and car accidents: We can help you to fill out forms, get help from your insurance company etc

– Directions and Information: Don’t worry, we offer directions and information on what ever you need on Koh Chang.

However, if you have any problems with your Visa for Thailand or damage your passport you will also need to contact the Immigration Department.  They have an office on Koh Chang where you can obtain advice.  But to extend your Tourist Visa you will have to go to the office in Laem Ngop on the mainland.  More details on how to do this at TratImmigration.com

Enjoy your holidays!

Koh Chang Resources

Koh chang guide.

If you're looking for a travel guide to Koh Chang island written by an expat resident then look no further than iamkohchang.com . All you need to know about the island . . . and more

Trat Immigration Office

If you need to extend a tourist visa or obtain a Non immigrant Visa please visit the immigration offices on Koh Chang or in Laem Ngop for advice.

Where to stay?

If you need some ideas about the best hotels , resorts, bungalows and guesthouses. See our quick guide our recommendations on all the different beaches.

Moving to Koh Chang

Many people fall in love with Koh Chang after vacationing here. If you're interested in moving to Koh Chang to run a business or buying a holiday home here, then KohChangRealEstate.com is the site for you to check out.

Trat Tourist Police on Patrol July 2018

Some photos of the Koh Chang and Trat Tourist Police at work during July.  Inspecting boats, checking on tourists’ safety on the beaches, meeting business owners and assisting visitors and expats throughout the province.

By Admin | July 16, 2018

Safety in Thailand for Tourists

How Safe is Thailand? Overall, Thailand is a safe country to visit, but it is always sensible to take some precautions to ensure you have an enjoyable and stress free holiday: Before you go to sleep at night, ensure that your room is locked. Be sure to leave valuables, airline tickets, passports etc either in the room […]

By Admin | May 24, 2017

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Phuket's tourist police foreign volunteers- What exactly do you guys do?

www.royalphuketmarina.com

Search WINDOW on Phuket

A question frequently posed to foreign volunteers helping the tourist police division of the royal thai police in phuket.,   phuket city.

The volunteer team currently comprises 40 foreign volunteers from 20 countries. Their language capability covers all the European languages, including Russian, most of the Indian sub-continent languages and more recently Arabic. The group includes some Thai nationals, and many of the foreign volunteers have Thai language skills, varying from fluencey to 'nit noi'.

What do we do? Well, we handle many different scenarios involving tourists. Everyday brings something different, missing persons: assault, theft, help with completing police reports, accidents, people forgetting where they're staying, domestic disputes and of course the famous jet ski disputes. We have Tourist Assistant Centres at the Tourist Police Headquarters in Yarowat Road, Phuket Town; at Thaweewong (Beach) Road in Patong and the recently opened Centre at Chalong Circle. The HQ is open 24 hours, seven days a week while centres are open daily Monday to Saturday from 10:00am to 3:30pm. Out of centres' office hours, all it takes is a call to the 24-hour emergency response line 1155.

We also help when dealing with local authorities, including the regular police, assisting with 'negotiations'. We can assist with disputes for repair costs after a rented vehicle is damaged, or between tourists and retailers or accommodation owners or travel agents, although this type of case usually requires the intervention of an officer of the regular Thai Tourist Police. We're also sometimes the first responder providing first aid to injured people, and we help people to get in contact with their embassies or consular officials.

Perhaps our most visible activity is the evening patrols in Soi Bangla and adjacent streets in Patong. Our presence there offers reassurance to holiday-makers and we can often defuse situations that could have turned nasty.

Our members come from many different backgrounds but all are commited to community service. Some of us have retired in Phuket, whilst others are in business here. Our backgrounds and experience vary and cover a broad spectrum including some who have been police officers, bakers, commandos, or emergency responders in our home countries. We pay for our own uniforms and equipment and receive no recompense for expenses incurred in the line of duty. We wear white shirts as we believe this is less intimidating than dark shirts. We believe our contribution to the tourist industry is appreciated by the vast majority, but there are always the few who doubt our motives and activities. To them we say, "Why don’t you visit one of our Assistance Centres, see for yourselves what we do – and meet some of the team."

Our rigorous selection process includes stringent interviews and background checks, while regular mandatory training programmes are conducted to cover every situation the volunteers might be involved in.

We're often called out to assist the regular police on special occasions, including traffic control during royal visits. At the recent official opening of the Tourist Police HQ in Phuket Town some of our members took part in the flag display presentation and ceremony. Volunteers can also be found supporting charity events such as the Phuket Blues and Rock Festival and the tsunami fund raiser for Japan held at Da Vinci's. And most recently at Six Senses Phuket Raceweek in Rawai. We provide support and assistance at many of the Thai cultural celebrations, such as Loy Krathong, the Vegetarian festival and Songkran.

Many of us find satisfaction in being able to assist tourists in a foreign country with a different language and cultural background, mostly when they are in a time of need. Often it's a simple matter of being able to communicate with someone in a language you speak who understands, empathizes and can help you through what may be a difficult time. We also receive compliments and thanks from Thai nationals, having assisted them to resolve a problem. We never assume who is at fault and are aware that tourists do need policing. The official slogan of the Royal Thai Tourist Police is 'Your First Friend'. We try to live up to that by offering our services with a smile in even the most difficult cases.

We receive no official funding and constantly need to replace worn equipment, furniture etc, as well as basic office supplies. If any readers feel they would like to support us, by donating something (not cash) to our group, please contact us via our web site, which also carries information on how to join us. Currently we are engaged in a high media profile boost to alert people to dangers, pitfalls and how to avoid them. Prevention is better than a cure!

For more information Tel: 1155. www.phuket-tourist-police-volunteers.com

  Photo gallery : Phuket's tourist police foreign volunteers- What exactly do you guys do?

Phuket's tourist police foreign volunteers

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