There has been an increase in serious cases regarding national security, safety and crime -- including bombings, drug trafficking, robberies and murders -- during the administration of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, according to a public opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll.
The poll was carried out on Aug 15-19 on 1,168 people throughout the country.
Asked whether they think violence and serious crime have increased or decreased during the Prayut administration, most of the respondents -- 47.35% -- believed there have been more such cases as people have become more savage and shown little respect for the law, while 44.14% said they see no change, since economic and social conditions have remained the same. Only 8.48% said there have been fewer serious crimes and violent incidents, believing the government, armed with Section 44, has been serious in its suppression efforts.
A majority of the respondents, 52.57%, said the government should invoke Section 44 to cope with these problems while 47.23% said ordinary laws should be used in handling these cases.