Special 'tourist courts' to be set up in Thailand to fast-track crimes against holidaymakers

By Travelmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 07:00 EST, 13 May 2013 | UPDATED: 07:01 EST, 13 May 2013

Authorities in Thailand are considering setting up special fast-track ‘tourist courts’ in an attempt to boost confidence in the country.

The proposal follows a rise in crimes against holidaymakers in the country's popular tourist resorts such as Phuket and Krabi.

Tourists are pictured sunbathing on a beach in Phuket

Target for criminals: Earlier this year, Phuket's Provincial Police Commander called for 5,000 more police officers to help protect tourists from crimes in Phuket

Thailand's new Minister of Tourism, Somsak Pureesrisak, wants the courts to prioritise crimes against tourists such as attacks, thefts or scams and said he would make travellers’ safety a top priority.

“The state should increase punishment against those who commit crimes like robbery and assault on tourists”, he said.

“Tourists who are the victims of thefts and robberies may have to face a lengthy trial and experience inconvenience because they only intended to stay in the country for a short time."

 

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The first court will be set up in the country’s capital Bangkok and courts will then be established in popular tourist destinations such as Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

They will be held at existing district courts, and will be open for service late into the evening.

The secretary general of the Office of the Judiciary to Thailand said: “We are opening the court to protect the rights of tourists and provide a fairness to those who may receive unfair treatment from tour agencies.”

The first court will be set up in the country's capital Bangkok

Roll out: The first court will be set up in the country's capital Bangkok

Chanchai Duangjit, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, said the proposal was a “very good thing for tourists” as they do not have time to deal with a court trial on holiday.

But Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat said that, although the courts would make it easier and quicker to process cases, it would be better to focus on preventing crime.

He told the The Phuket News: “I would prefer more effort be put into preventing crime, such as by installing more CCTV cameras across Phuket, which would help police to catch bad men faster and would help reduce the already heavy workload on judges at the court.”

Earlier this year Chavalviwat called for 5,000 more police officers to help protect tourists from crimes in Phuket as new crime figures for the island were released.

The country's Minister of Tourism wants courts to prioritise crimes against tourists such as attacks, thefts or scams and said he would make travellers' safety a top priority

Crackdown: The country's Minister of Tourism wants courts to prioritise crimes against tourists and said he would make travellers' safety a top priority

It was revealed that seven ex-pats have been murdered in the resort since 2010 and that last year, foreigners were the victims of two rapes, 13 violent crimes, 13 attempted robberies and 46 cases of fraud. However, the biggest cause of death to foreigners in the resort was drowning with eight deaths in 2012.

In January, a British man was shot during a beach party in Haad Rin in Koh Phangan. Stephen Ashton was killed during a New Year’s Eve party by 26-year-old Ekkapan Kaewkla.

In February, a British student was gang raped by four Thai men as she left a late-night restaurant in Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently warns tourists about attacks by gangs in areas such as Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Krabi and advises visitors to be on their guard against pickpockets and bag snatchers and to take extra care at night.

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What a joke..The Thais will never get round to it as the whole system is designed to rip off tourists to push court cases foreward for ever increasing bribes. Thailand is a great place but if something goes wrong beware. You will be hassled and pestered continiously be cops, lawyers, court officials for more and more money to sort it out. Best to cut your losses and leave. The entire judicial system is a complete joke.

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sabah, bath. the government will do nothing...its just talk...heard it all before.

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Anyone going there be prepared to get turned over by locals and the police

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@tonyboy, you need to get out more

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As far as i can ascertain anybody travelling to Thailand for a holiday is either a phaedofile seeking out young boys or girls or some demented male of the species looking for a bride to wait on him for the rest of his days.

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Will they also be prosecuting the tourists who go there to procure underage children for their own gratification?

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Thailand has the best police force money can buy ?

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A great idea ,I hope it is implemented sooner rather than later. The Pattaya ski boat scams should be top of the list

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Pure whitewash. Thai courts & fast can never appear in the same sentence. Thai politicians make pronouncements on everything from the carnage on the roads (40 deaths a DAY) to jet-ski scams & taxi mafia. I've been here 8 years and nothing has changed. Only money talks here. Justice is only doled out to the poor - the rich walk away after paying a police 'fine'.

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I still feel far safer living here than I ever did living in London. I like living somewhere that a security screen is a tarpaulin cover thrown over your goods or a place where you can park your motorbike with your shopping hanging on it with the keys in and your crash helmet hanging on the mirror while you wander round the market or get something to eat safe in the knowledge it will all be there when you return.

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