Foreigner in police-like uniform causes outrage in Phuket

Phuket residents are calling for an investigation after a foreign woman shared photos and videos online of herself dressed in attire resembling a Thai police uniform. The Phuket Times Facebook page published images of the woman on May 21. In the photos, she was wearing a black vest with a Thai flag and a Royal Thai Police patch. She also wore a cap with "Police" written on it and a card holder with the logo of the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau. The vest shown in the photos is typically worn by Thai police officers and volunteer officers during patrols and operations. In another image, the woman was riding a motorcycle, dressed in a police-like uniform. The motorcycle also had a green sticker with an emblem similar to those used by Thai government agencies. According to the Phuket Times, the foreign woman shared the images on her personal social media account and was reportedly residing in the Patong area of Phuket. The images sparked an online discussion about whether the clothing and accessories were authentic and if the woman had any official connection to law enforcement. Social media users urged the police and relevant authorities to investigate the case. Some comments from Thai users included: "She wore this shirt and then approached foreigners in the province, telling them she could help them extend their visas or deal with the police." "Such shirts are available on e-commerce platforms." "I once stumbled upon her social media account and saw that her brother or friend owns a motorcycle rental shop in Phuket." "Police uniform is not for cosplay, okay?" Some netizens suggested that the foreign woman might not have known that wearing clothing resembling a police uniform could violate Thai law. According to Section 108 of Thailand's Royal Thai Police Act, unauthorized impersonation of a police officer or wearing a police uniform carries a penalty of three months to five years imprisonment. Authorities may also consider Section 146 of the Criminal Code, which covers wearing an official uniform without permission in a way that could mislead the public. This offense carries a penalty of up to one year imprisonment, a fine of up to 2,000 baht, or both. As of publication, Phuket police had not announced the initiation of an official investigation. A similar incident was recorded in December 2023, when a Chinese citizen wore a Thai police uniform and appeared in videos alongside a real officer. The Thai officer later stated that he had lent the uniform to the Chinese man for video content and insisted that no illegal activities had occurred. For readers: Please remember that wearing clothing resembling a Thai police uniform or other government service uniforms without proper authorization is a serious offense in Thailand and can lead to criminal liability.