Pattaya’s Bizarre Police Bazaar

[Pattaya One]

The steady flow of news about crimes committed by people impersonating police officers is always a depressing feature of Pattaya’s media headlines.

In most countries it’s a crime to impersonate a police officer.  In Pattaya it’s a cottage industry.

You may wonder where they get their convincing outfits?

Well, probably by popping down to the stall set up outside Soi 9 station, which I recently strolled past.

It was selling every kind of police-emblazoned accessory you can imagine; including luminous vests, police caps, jackets, and a tantalizing array of batons, knives, stun guns and convincing, official-looking walkie talks and radios.

That’s probably why so many people refuse to stop at roadblocks manned by vest-wearing individuals, especially at night.

Yet it is actually a crime to impersonate a police officer in Thailand, so this stall is definitely lucky to be able to stay in business, as it can only encourage that kind of criminal behavior.

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