Prachuab Khirikhan Police Division and Hua Hin Police Office are currently training female police to protect the city and provide assistance to Thai and foreign visitors. Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichien Tantawiriya, the Prachuab Khirikhan Police Commander, stated that Hua Hin was facing serious physical problems, particularly traffic congestion, due to insufficient police force and road space available for increasing number of residents and cars. To make things worse, a lot of people influx in the city during public holidays and weekends.
Highly concerned over the problem, Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichien asked Col. Damrongsak Thongngarmtrakul, the Superintendent of the Hua Hin Police Office, to train 15 female police officers on traffic control. They will work at a turning point in front of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Hua Hin Market Village, Hua Hin Witthayalai School, Soi Hua Hin 88, Bon Kai intersection, Hua Hin Grand and Plaza Hotel, Hua Hin Municipality, the Clock Tower, Hua Hin Train Station, night market, the roundabout next to the reservoir, Sa Song Road and the Plaza intersection leading to the Hua Hin beach. Besides too many cars and not enough road space, few parking lots in the city cause untidy car parking.
As a result, police officers in Hua Hin should solve this problem while giving advice and warning to those trying to break the rules. Law enforcement has to be seriously taken along with cooperation from local people and business owners. Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichien added that traffic congestion is one of the critical problems in Hua Hin apart from crimes and drugs. Therefore, police officers are supposed to work proactively with local people rather than sitting desk-bound every day.
The use of female police is a pilot project to solve traffic problems in Hua Hin. It is believed that femininity that consists of gentleness, politeness and gracefulness will help ‘cool down’ aggression of some people, especially drivers who often violate traffic rules. Use of such sweet qualities will also promote the image of Hua Hin as a city of smile to some extent.
