A new initiative called the “Red Card” system has been launched in Phuket, Thailand, to crack down on bad behaviour or law-breaking by foreigners. The initiative was announced by Praphansak Prasansuk, a senior Immigration officer, at a press conference attended by a horde of high-ranking officials yesterday.
Under the system, foreign visitors who engage in activities that are deemed inappropriate or illegal will be given a yellow card. They will also be issued with a warning and their embassy will be notified.
“Should they commit a second offence during the same period of stay, their permission to remain in the kingdom will be revoked and they will be deported”, according to a report in The Phuket News.
“If they attempt to visit Thailand on another occasion, they will not be given permission to remain, based on having broken the law during their previous stay.”
The red card system is part of a larger initiative aimed at promoting better behaviour among tourists. At the press conference, officials referred to a rise in bad behaviour among tourists in recent years, with incidents such as dangerous driving, riding a motorbike without a helmet, and not having the correct driving licence on the rise.
Officials also gave an update on a number of foreigners detained on the island recently, including a man arrested under an Interpol red notice, who is wanted by the French authorities. Also arrested were two Russian nationals accused of a robbery involving cryptocurrency, and a number of French nationals arrested for dangerous driving and riding motorbikes without a helmet or a bike licence.
The authorities also confirmed the arrest of several Mongolian individuals, who are accused of pickpocketing tourists in Patong. Phuket Immigration Chief Thanet Sukchai urged people to use the Traffy Fondue app if they wish to file a complaint about anyone breaking the law.
“The Phuket Provincial Immigration Office has set a standard for conducting screening inspections and the suppression and arrest of foreigners who commit crimes in various fields, including monitoring persons with arrest warrants. If anyone sees or knows of wrongdoing by foreigners, please report it to the Phuket Immigration Office.”
SOURCE: The Phuket News
