Curfew for the under 18s in Bangkok

[Spitfire]

Children under 18 to face curfew in Bangkok

The Metropolitan Police will issue a directive to prohibit children under 18 years old from leaving home after 10 pm without justified reasons, the bureau spokesman said Thursday.
Metropolitan Police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo said the ban was aimed preventing youths from hanging out at night and committing crime or becoming crime victims.
Piya said if police found children under 18 hanging out at night without justified reasons they would be taken to police stations and they would be have criminal records and their parents would be called to pick them up.
He said students, who finish class at tuition schools late at night, would be exempted from the curfew.

Source - The Nation

Comment - Well, all sounds fine etc but hardly very enforceable really. Probably turn out to be another lofty idea which isn't enforced. Although, if worked properly and enforced with some zeal then I'm all for it, little toe-rags should be at home anyhow.

[Spitfire]

Seems to have been a stiff reaction to the police suggestion of a curfew and the cops have had to do some watering down/damage limitation explaining etc, now aimed at Internet shops/snooker clubs and nightclubs. Still all sounds a bit like 'wishful thinking'.

Police defend under-18s curfew plan

Published: 21/01/2011 at 03:17 PM

The planned curfew for people under 18 is targeted at night entertainment venues, internet shops and snooker clubs, Metropolitan Police deputy chief Amnuay Nimmano said on Friday.

Pol Maj Gen Amnuay said it was not intended to ban under-18s from being away from their home after 10pm, as many people seemed to think.

"In the past, police have asked business operators to help out at night by telling their young customers to return home as they could be at risk of being lured into vice.

"Police will now increase patrols at places where youths usually gather, such as race circuits.

"Young people can leave home to engage in personal activities, shop, dine or attend a concert. Police will focus on areas that are prone to vice, such as herb or online game shops," he said.

Police will also oversee security in areas where young girls wear revealing clothes.

The deputy chief said the curfew initiative was one of many crime reduction plans, besides normal law enforcement.

Earlier, Democrat Party chief adviser and former prime minister Chuan Leekpai said such a curfew would violate young people's rights.

"I believe the police have good intentions and that they want to see peace and order in the country, but it would be better if the laws are just enforced more stringently," Mr Chuan said.

The government has vowed to reduce crime in Bangkok by 20 pr cent in six month as one of the nine measures under the Pracha Wiwat welfare scheme.

Source - The Bangkok Post

[pharvey]

Seriously, how the hell can it work/be enforced.... really?

[Spitfire]

Agree, must be 'The Ministry of Grand Plans and Lofty Ideas' at it again trying to justify their existence.

[pharvey]

Actually, how accurate would we or most others be in determining the age of Thai guys or gals around that age? I know damn well, I would be a long way out...... Thais/Asians look 18 when they're in their mid 20's

Maybe we should have the HHAD picture quiz ......... move it to ''Night Crawlers'' and ask Richard to provide some photos (although he adds to the difficulty with ''plastic'' issues).