Forget drink-drivers, focus on halting COVID, cops told
Forget drink-drivers, focus on halting COVID, cops told
THAILAND: Police have suspended the use of checkpoints to test motorists for drink-driving, citing the need to concentrate on stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Wednesday 21 April 2021, 08:44AM
The new order applies to all police units and is being issued under the state of emergency to stem the latest surge in infections. Photo: Supplied.
The order was signed by deputy police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, on behalf of the national police chief, and came into force on Sunday (Apr 18).
It represents a U-turn after police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk issued a directive last month that drink-driving checkpoints should resume operations nationwide from April 1, albeit with strict new guidelines.
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Police have again suspended use of checkpoints to test motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol, citing the need to concentrate on stopping the spread of Covid-19.
The order was signed by deputy police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, on behalf of the national police chief, and is effective from April 18.
This was an abupt about turn.
It was Pol Gen Damrongsak who announced on March 31 that the police chief, Suwat Jangyodsuk, had issued a directive that drink-driving checkpoints should resume operations nationwide from April 1, under strict new guidelines.
Their use was suspended in October last year, soon after Pol Gen Suwat took office. He promised their operations would be made more transparent.
Police go cyber smart
published : 12 Apr 2021 at 04:30 Theeradet: Passes on his tips
Widely renowned for his work as a detective before he was promoted to head the Royal Thai Police, national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk has now embarked on what may be his toughest mission yet that of bringing the nations crime fighters into the 21st century.
Under his brainchild Detectives in the age of 5G programme, officers will be taught both how to intercept and interpret modern forms of communication in their pursuit of villains who have become increasingly more internet-aware in recent years, and also how to use these new channels for their own information-gathering exercises.
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At least 1,200 road checkpoints will be up and running to curb drink-driving, while local police will rein in Covid spreaders, during the Songkran festival next week, the Royal Thai Police Office announced.
National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk chaired a meeting of senior officers to discuss safety measures during next week s long Songkran weekend at RTP headquarters on Monday.
He said the goal was to reduce traffic accidents during the holiday, one of the year s busiest travel periods, by at least 5% from figures recorded over the last three years.
Pol Gen Suwat said the meeting was attended by more than 1,400 superintendents and officers from the Immigration Bureau, the Highway Police, Border Patrol officers and Tourist Police.