Bangkok officials crack down on street beggars
Play
Bangkok police yesterday arrested of 101 street beggars - many of whom were migrants who illegally entered Thailand and would therefore be deported.
Pol Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri, assistant to the national police chief, said the move followed an announcement on April 3 that human trafficking measures were a national agenda. He said the latest crackdown was just the start.
Pol Maj-General Chayapol Chatchaidet, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6, said officials from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry rounded up the street beggars, who were considered victims of human trafficking.
Sampan Suwantab, deputy chief of the Social Development and Welfare Department, said the latest crackdown would reduce the plight of women and children, the main victims of human trafficking. He also affirmed the department would develop the potential of those homeless persons who were not the victims of human trafficking.
