The Royal Thai Police (RTP) serves as the national police force of Thailand, employing between 210,700 and 230,000 officers. The RTP is a unitary agency under the Office of the Prime Minister, responsible for the maintenance of public order and enforcement of the Kingdom’s laws nationwide. The police structure consists of thirty bureaus and six divisions, including specialized units such as the Border Patrol Police, Provincial Police, Metropolitan Police, Central Investigation Bureau, and Tourist Police[1][5][7].
The organization is led by a Director General, also known as the Commissioner General, and is subdivided into regions and services, each wielding its own authority. The main operational units include Metropolitan Police (focused on Bangkok), Border Patrol Police (a paramilitary unit), Provincial Police (handling law enforcement throughout the provinces), and the Special Branch (responsible for intelligence and security). Auxiliary sections like the Traffic Police Division and Crowd Control units handle specific tasks such as traffic management and public order during demonstrations[1][3][5].
In Bangkok, the Metropolitan Police Bureau is highly visible, with 88 police stations led by officers ranging from 30 to 200 personnel each. This urban force is supported by motorized units, canine teams, traffic-control specialists, and security details. The Traffic Police Division is tasked with road safety, and the Protection and Crowd Control Division manages VIP protection and public demonstrations[1].
Emergency Contacts are streamlined across Thailand. The universal police emergency number is 191, which serves as the primary call center. For English-speaking assistance, especially for tourists, the Tourist Police can be reached 24 hours a day at 1155, or at (+66) 2308-0333, with staff capable of addressing a range of queries and directing callers to appropriate resources[2][4][6][8].
Police station addresses and more contact numbers are widely available for different regions and cities, including headquarters, tourist police offices, and key urban police stations in areas like Phuket, Pattaya, and beyond. These typically include both local and toll-free numbers, such as 191 or 195 for general emergencies and 1155 for tourist support[2][4][6].
References
- [1] Royal Thai Police – Wikipedia
- [2] Thailand National Police Telephone Numbers
- [3] Thailand Police Hierarchy Chart | Hierarchystructure.com
- [4] Police Stations in Thailand – Siam Real Estate
- [5] Thailand Policing System in Comparative Police System
- [6] Useful Contacts | List of Thai Diplomatic Contacts – GM-Suites
- [7] THAILAND-POLICE-SYSTEM.docx
- [8] Emergency numbers useful contacts in Thailand
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