PHUKET
CRIME
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Patong to expand CCTV surveillance
PATONG: Kathu Police plan to install about 10 more
closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Patong
to increase security and fight crime there, the police
chief has announced.
Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak
told the Gazette that more CCTV cameras are needed
in Patong, as the 16 cameras that went into operation
there in early 2007 are effective for traffic control,
but have done little to aid in criminal investigations.
“The image quality from those cameras still can’t
help us in crime suppression because they were installed
in fixed positions to monitor traffic flow. Only a
few of them can zoom in or capture images well enough
to help fight crime,” said Col Grissak.
The 16 CCTV cameras in Patong were installed by CAT
Telecom in early 2007 under a 16-million-baht contract
funded by the CEO Governor’s budget.
Phuket City and Kata-Karon also got 16 CCTV cameras
each under the project.
To improve coverage, Patong Municipality has already
approved 4 million baht in funding for about 10 more
cameras, but the money is not yet available, Col Grissak
said.
A number of businesses are also expected to donate
money, though Col Grissak declined to estimate how
much the private-sector would contribute.
“We would like to have more cameras on line as soon
as possible, preferably before the Songkran Festival
for those with private-sector funding, which should
come through more quickly. Patong needs a lot of camera
coverage because of the crowded conditions and pace
of development,” he said.
For the second-phase, Kathu Police will seek out improved
CCTV technology that integrates well with the existing
system, he said.
Kathu Police will also take more measures to improve
traffic in Patong and make it safer for pedestrians
to cross the roads, he said.
The one-way traffic system put in place in mid-January,
2007 – at about the same time the CCTV network was
introduced – has improved traffic flow in Patong considerably.
However, crossing the streets on foot has become more
dangerous. The lack of speed bumps, traffic lights
or pedestrian overpasses to improve safety for pedestrians
has become a major cause for complaint among visiting
tourists.
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