Murdered Britons

[Wanderlust]

Big Boy,
I've sent you a PM. Thanks.

[Wanderlust]

i wouldn't like to suggest one way or the other, just that when you look at the bigger picture, does anyone here really think thailand is one of the most dangerous places on earth?

Well, here are some stats available on the internet:

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_m ... per-capita

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_m ... per-capita

Make your own minds up!

Jaime,
Interesting stats (although 7 years out of date!) but you can make statistics say almost anything you want! Equally, although these stats have been collated by a reliable source you never know how well they have been recorded at the time by the police forces in those countries. Even if you accept the figures as accurate, even the 'Murder Capital of the World' in these (Columbia) show how rare murders are - less than 1 in 1000 and in fact closer to 1 in 2000 there; Thailand's by comparison is less than 1 in 10,000. The Murders by firearms set of stats is totally confusing though as it appears to indicate that the total number of those (20,032) is higher than the total number of murders (5140)! Anyone who can explain this?

[Jaime]

Out of date, certainly but then census information is always 10 years out of date!

The point is, anyone who thinks that Thailand is a crime free land of smiles is seriously deluded.

[tarakandi]

Well said Big Boy, the whole article is full of inaccuracies and it is obvious that it is just a sales pitch for the author’s book.

I am sure if Som had been able to get her side of the story heard at the trial then the gutter press in the UK would have had a field day.

There is no question that the Thai authorities wanted the case closed with the minimum of press coverage and the reasons for that was twofold, one to save Toby’s family from the sordid details and the other to avoid the UK press sensationalizing the tragedy.

[caller]

There is no question that the Thai authorities wanted the case closed with the minimum of press coverage and the reasons for that was twofold, one to save Toby’s family from the sordid details and the other to avoid the UK press sensationalizing the tragedy.

I'm missing the point somewhere?

Firstly, I don't accept the above reasons for the Thai's wanting it closed with the minimum of fuss - I think that speaks for itself, does it not? Shouldn't such an investigation and trial be used to establish the facts and punish any perpetrators?

Let's get real, if they wanted it resolved with the minimum of fuss, it was to protect the reputation of Thailand - nothing more, nothing less.

But to me, the families tale is just padding to "humanise" and make real the fact that the stats show a worrying trend. As has been said elsewhere, stats can be cold and easily manipulated, which if you look deeper, appears to be a game the Brit Embassy is playing as well?

[JW]

Hate to say this, but the few instances of trouble i have seen has had Brits involved.

In most cases i dont think that people are killed without some reason.

[Onlyme]

That's for some of the responses.

[margaretcarnes]

All I can say is that I always felt pretty safe in HH at night. Obviously took sensible precautions about getting home when it was late - but never had a problem.
Over here in Lincoln the buses didn't even run into town after 7 at night from some areas, due to violence. There was a guy stabbed to death in a nearby street, frequent broken windows by gangs of kids, not to mention 'him indoors' battered while asleep in his room.
You couldn't go out on foot at all after dark. Thought it would be quieter up in Sleepy Hollow (North Lincs) but turns out the police from the nearest city are refusing to attend late night disturbances. Too scared. So much for crime statistics!

[DawnHRD]

^ That's the point that I think everyone's missing, Mags. No matter how heinous some crimes against farangs are or are reported to be in Thailand, many of us, particularly women, feel & probably are far safer here than we would be in our own countries.

[KelpieKiss]

Mind the wife has told me what would happen
if i opened my mouth over there... heard and read enough...

Last year I worked in the Wood Green area of London, near Tottenham. There seemed to be a shooting there almost every day. Police signs everywhere asking for witnesses. The youth in that area are genuinely scary. As long as you obey some simple rules here e.g. don't be a loud mouth A-Hole, you'll get by just fine. I don't know about anyone else, but it's some of the Farangs in the Hua Hin center that scare me! I've never heard a Thai saying 'What the F@ck do you fink you're looking at!'