Security to be beefed up at Ratchaprasong Square

Chai Srivikorn, president of the association, said that, in collaboration with other private and public agencies, including the Royal Thai Police, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Panasonic Siew Sales Thailand and the Than Tao Mahaprom Foundation Erawan Bangkok, the reassuring comprehensive security measures within Ratchaprasong would allow the shopping district to become a role model for the whole of the capital in terms of security.

“Ratchaprasong is a key landmark for global tourism in which various lifestyle activities are widely arranged, especially the Bangkok Countdown at Ratchaprasong, which is regarded as a top-of-the-mind event on tourists’ lists. As a result, this year we have expanded and beefed up security, with the help of our members, who operate 13 major buildings in the area,” said Chai.

Chai said the Ratchaprasong district normally attracted between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors per day, both locals and foreign tourists.

For the final three months of the year, which is the main annual festive season, the number of visitors in the area increases by 25 per cent.

“The aim of the RSTA is to make security at Ratchaprasong [in line with] the world-class system, similar to those enhanced systems used in big cities around the world, such as in England,” he explained. 

There are currently 2,155 CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras within the Ratchaprasong district, of which more than 70 are located outside the buildings, especially on the skywalk and streets.

A total of 500 private security guards have been working both inside the buildings and in public areas, including the skywalk. They operate on a three-shift basis. “In the event of any crime or terrorist incident happening, we want to reduce the lead time to identify suspects from about 45 minutes experienced after the explosion at the Erawan Shrine in mid-August, to only 15 minutes,” he said.

Isareit Chirathivat, vice president of Central Pattana, which operates CentralWorld, said the shopping complex attracted about 150,000 visitors a day. 

Pol Lt-General Anan Srihirun, assistant commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, said the police were making security of the public a top priority, through integrated operations involving the local police (Lumpini station), metropolitan personnel, patrol and special operations division, the Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit, Tourism Police, Crime Suppression Division and Special Branch Police.

“For providing security in the Ratchaprasong area in particular, we have focused on collaboration between the private sector and the police, utilising biometric technology in identifying suspects or video analytic inspection to check out suspicious or unattended objects,” he said.