Topic: Tourist Police Volunteer Assistant

[RobRoy]

And let me start off by stating ..... This is not a joke!!!! 

The Thai tourist police are looking for farangs to assist them.  There's a meeting Tuesday in Chidlom at 1:00 for people interested.  Basically this gig is this:  (This is copied from the email sent from the farang organizing the meeting)

INFORMATION:

Hours of commitment: Up to the individual volunteer

Place or work: Up to the individual volunteer

Probation: generally about 3 months but is based on the number of hours completed.

Uniform: Under discussion. Initially they asked that until probation is complete, we provide our own short sleeved white shirt. We mentioned that it would not have TP emblem etc on it and that we would not be easily identified. They said they would discuss it further and get back to us.

ID: will be provided on completion of probation.

Application: Completed form will be sent to your embassy for their check ( last page) for major crime record. And authentication of passport number etc. Then the TP will check any convictions in Thailand and the application process is done.

Process: After the applications have been checked and cleared they will call another meeting to discuss times etc for a training course and I am hoping discussion about the uniform situation. Then the training course will take place and work started. This meeting and training course may also involve other volunteers from other groups so that everyone can meet each other.

Here are the places you might get to work at.  This is copied from the application form.

   5   สถานที่ที่ท่านต้องการเข้าร่วมเป็นอาสาสมัคร Location would like to volunteer:                
      (กรุณาทำ ขีดเส้นใต้ สถานที่ที่ท่านเลือก Please underline your selective place)               
         ถนนข้าวสาร Kao San Rd,    ตลาดนัดจตุจักร JJ Market,   พัฒน์พงศ์ Patpong,                
         สนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ Suwanabhumi airport,    สนามบินดอนเมือง Donmueng airport,                
         ถนนนานา Nana Street,   ถนนคาวบอย Cowboy Street,   พระบรมมหาราชวัง Grand Palace,                
         วัดพระแก้ว Emerald Buddha temple,     Ramdanree Cross Junction,                
         สำนักงานใหญ่ Headquaters,                ณ ศูนย์ประสานงานทางโทรศัพท์ Call Center

Lastly the tourist police expectations, again copied from the application form.

11   เงื่อนไข Conditions                  
                     
   1   อาสาสมัครมีความเข้าใจเป็นอย่างดีเกี่ยวกับโคงการอาสามัครนี้ และรับทราบว่าโครงการนี้จะไม่ได้ค่าตอบแทนเป็นเงิน หรือมีผลตอบแทนใดที่ทดแทนเงินสดได้               
      Volunteers clearly understands that this program is purely volunteer, no payment in kind or cash for contribution what-so-ever               
   2   ตำรวจท่องเที่ยวจะไม่รับผิดชอบใดๆ ทั้งสิ้นไม่ว่ากรณีทรัพย์สินสูญหายหรือมีอุบัติเหตุอื่นใดในขณะที่อาสาสมัครปฏิบัติหน้าที่               
      TPD will not be held responsible for any loses or accidents during volunteer work               
   3   หลังผ่านขั้นตอนการทดสอบการปฏิบัติงานครบ 3 เดือนแล้วจึงจะถือว่ามีคุณสมบัติครบถ้วนในการบรรจุเป็นเจ้าหน้าที่อาสาสมัครช่วยเหลือตำรวจท่องเที่ยว               
      Volunteer must pass probabtion period of 3 months to be fully endorsed as a TPD assistant               
   4   อาสาสมัครมีความเข้าใจเป็นอย่างดีว่ามีหน้าที่ช่วยเหลืองานของตำรวจ แต่มิใช่การปฏิบัติแทนหรือเป็นตัวแทนตำรวจ               
      Volunteers understand that being a volunteer is to assist the work of a police officer and not act on behalf of a police officer               
   5   อาสาสมัครจะไม่เข้าไปมีส่วนร่วมในการปฏิบัติงานของตำรวจเช่น การจับกุมคนร้าย, การเข้าร่วมชัณสูจน์, การเข้าร่วมสืบสวน หรือ สังเกตุการณ์               
      Volunteers should not be involved in activities such as arrests, interrogations, investigations or inspections               

If anyone is interested, PM me your email address and I'll forward the email with the info and the application form.

This has been a public service announcement from RobRoy...thank you for your time and understanding.  Now, back to our regular programming.      

[brian_q]

There have been Tourist Police Volunteers at Chiang Mai Airport for a while now... they seem helpful.

Brian

[RobRoy]

To be honest, I thought it was a joke at first.....but little did I know.  I don't ever remember seeing farangs hanging out with the police here in BKK.

[hero]

I think they have had them in Pattaya for a while.

[Thighlander]

Brian is correct; they have been in CNX for more than a year.  www.chiangmainews.com ran a story on them about a year ago.  You must already have a non Imm B to get accepted.  So, don't think for a moment this is a way to become legal through the back door.

[Rumpole]

You must already have a non Imm B to get accepted.  So, don't think for a moment this is a way to become legal through the back door.

What about a work permit?  This is also required for unpaid voluntary work.  Even if the toytown cop volunteer has one for his day job, it would not cover this position, as a separate permit is required for each job the alien proposes to do - including, technically, work performed at a different location to that mentioned in the permit for the same employer. 

So not only are the 'stupid farang' expected to work without remuneration, they must also do so illegally.  Like so many jobs in Thailand, it doesn't seem like a particularly good deal.

[Krungsri]

Not necessarily a good deal, but may be helpful to a distressed farang at some time and perhaps to the Tourist Police officer trying to deal with the situation.  Volunteering brings its own rewards.  I think I'll consider it when I've got some more time (hopefully soon!).

I do know of one colleague who has signed up in Bangkok.

Thanks, Rob Roy, for this information.

[Johnny Rotten]

There have been Tourist Police Volunteers at Chiang Mai Airport for a while now... they seem helpful.

Brian

and I don't know why but when I see them I want to scratch

[wangsuda]

and I don't know why but when I see them I want to scratch

I get that feeling too, when people decide to work for the enemy.

[Geekboy]

Exactly, wangsuda. These kind of people think they are doing some kind of favor for the Thai police but only end up looking like fools.

[Rumpole]

You can imagine some of the types this is likely to attract.  Some time ago, there were a number of discussions on one of the other Thai boards about the motives and suitability of some of the farang 'police volunteers' in Pattaya. Eventually the moderators pulled the plug on all the threads and prohibited further comment on the topic.

Still, I'm sure the Thais will be diligently applying the same exhaustive background checks and rigorous selection procedures they normally use when hiring Westerners. 

[los_teacher]

Wouldn't want to take the chance of hiring a westerner who might become a 'corrupt' police officer - that just would not do.

[Rumpole]

Wouldn't want to take the chance of hiring a westerner who might become a 'corrupt' police officer - that just would not do.

Er, I was being ironic.  I'll bet the only things they will be looking for are a white face and a pulse.

[retiredstillteaching]

It's not something I'd do but I do wonder about the question that's been raised concerning whether the farang would have to have a work permit even tho it's officially volunteer "work."

It's already been stated that the farang would have to possess a non-immi b visa before applying to the program. Would that be the only acceptable visa for this kind of volunteer work? Using farang who have the non immi b visa would make perfect sense, but TiT so I feel I have to ask the question.

What if you wanted to do this volunteer work (I don't) but your employer wanted you to teach a special class after regular school hours or on a weekend which would confilict with your desire to do the volunteer stuff with the Thai TP? Again, the WP question also comes to mind...

While I'm asking questions:  izzthere a special exam the farang has to take to demonstrate knowledge of the Thai ways of corruption, fraud and abuse of authority, position and privilege???   

[Nemesis]

A work permit is needed for all work, paid or unpaid, volunteer or not volunteer. But can one even get a work permit for police work?