Poll finds 87% see crime and violence worsening in Thailand
Suan Dusit Poll finds 55.09% are very worried about personal safety, while 50.58% have little confidence in the government’s response.
A nationwide poll has found that 87.40% of respondents believe crime and violence in Thailand have become more severe, while 50.58% have little confidence that the government can solve the problem.
Suan Dusit Poll at Suan Dusit University surveyed 1,198 people online and in the field from August 4-7. The results were released on Sunday (August 9, 2026).
Insufficiently strict law enforcement and penalties emerged as the leading perceived cause of crime and violence, selected by 86.81% of respondents. Drug problems followed at 78.55%.
Concern over personal safety was also high, with 55.09% of respondents saying they were very worried and another 38.98% describing themselves as fairly worried.
Crime and violence seen as becoming more severe
1. How do people view crime and violence in Thai society today?
- More severe: 87.40%
- About the same: 11.19%
- Unsure: 1.09%
- Less severe: 0.32%
2. What do people believe causes crime and violence in Thai society?
- Insufficiently strict law enforcement and penalties: 86.81%
- Drug problems: 78.55%
- Upbringing and problems within families: 57.85%
- Weaknesses in probation and parole controls: 54.34%
- Possible involvement of some police officers in criminal cases: 49.08%
The final response represents respondents’ perceptions and is not a finding that police officers were involved in criminal activity. Respondents could select more than one answer to this question, so the percentages were calculated separately and do not total 100%.
3. Are people worried about their personal safety following recent reports of crime and violence?
- Very worried: 55.09%
- Fairly worried: 38.98%
- Not very worried: 4.93%
- Not worried: 1.00%
Tougher punishment tops preferred responses
Severe punishment for offenders, particularly in serious cases or cases involving repeat offending, was the most frequently selected measure for reducing crime and violence, at 81.55%.
Strict and consistent enforcement without exceptions followed at 77.53%, while 69.95% supported closer monitoring and supervision of prisoners after their release.
4. What should be done to reduce crime and violence in Thai society?
- Impose severe punishment, particularly for serious crimes and repeat offending: 81.55%
- Enforce laws strictly and consistently, without exceptions: 77.53%
- Closely monitor and supervise prisoners after their release: 69.95%
Respondents could give more than one answer to this question.
5. How confident are people that the government can solve the problem?
- Not very confident: 50.58%
- Fairly confident: 24.62%
- Not confident at all: 18.36%
- Very confident: 6.44%
Poll reflects heightened fear over personal safety
Dr Pornpan Buathong, chair of Suan Dusit Poll, said the findings reflected a widespread perception that crime and violence were increasing, accompanied by concern over personal safety.
She said respondents remained largely unconvinced that the government could deal with the problem. Authorities therefore needed to enforce the law rigorously and demonstrate tangible results to improve public safety and restore confidence, she added.
Dr Pemika Sanitphot, a lecturer at Suan Dusit University’s School of Law and Politics, said the findings pointed to a sharp rise in the public’s “fear of crime”, alongside a heightened sense of personal insecurity.
She referred to several serious incidents reported within a few weeks, including a case involving a former prisoner released two months earlier in which five people were killed, and a school shooting involving a student that left people dead and seriously injured.
Pemika said measures to reduce opportunities for serious crime needed to be strengthened. Although the questionnaire asked generally about severe punishment rather than capital punishment specifically, she said many people were calling for the death penalty in particularly serious cases that caused widespread public alarm.
She also supported using security technology and innovation, including CCTV and weapon-detection systems, as preventive measures.
In the immediate term, Pemika said the government should prioritise the suppression of serious crime and repeat offending to reduce the risk of further incidents, strengthen confidence in the justice system and improve protection of people and property.
