New Phuket Provincial Police Chief Takes Office

Major General Surachai Suksai officially took over as commander of the Phuket Provincial Police on October 1, outlining public and tourist safety, the fight against drugs, transnational and cybercrime, and road safety among his main priorities.

The formal handover took place at the Phuket Provincial Police headquarters. Former commander Major General Sinlert Sukhum handed the police flag to his successor, followed by a ceremony involving an honour guard.

Sinlert was transferred as part of the annual police rotation and promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Border Patrol Police.

Addressing officers, Surachai said he intended to continue effective practices introduced by his predecessor while improving areas where the police could work more efficiently.

“I did not come here to stand above everyone. I came here to work together with everyone,” the new commander was quoted as saying.

Surachai described Phuket as a particularly challenging province for law enforcement. Despite its relatively small land area, the island receives a large number of tourists and is also home to foreign residents, migrant workers and other groups whose numbers are not reflected in the province’s official permanent population figures.

He noted that Phuket covers around 543 square kilometres and has 11 police stations. In his assessment, the actual workload facing Phuket police is considerably greater than might be expected from the province’s size alone.

Security and law enforcement priorities

The new police chief said particular attention would be given to crimes that directly affect the safety of tourists and Phuket’s international reputation.

His priorities include:

• combating drug-related crime;

• tackling transnational crime;

• addressing cybercrime;

• improving road safety;

• strengthening police preparedness for emergencies.

Surachai also outlined four broader principles for his command: residents should be safe, tourists should feel secure, the police should maintain their dignity, and officers should have acceptable working conditions.

He said officers who perform their duties properly should receive support, while misconduct should be addressed appropriately. He also stressed that police leadership should not abandon officers when problems arise.

Surachai also discussed issues he plans to examine after taking up the post, including illegal schemes involving foreign businesses and other alleged violations involving foreign nationals.

He said he would first need to gain a clearer understanding of the situation surrounding Phuket’s Jewish community before determining what further action, if any, should be taken by police in that area.