Parents join juvenile racers in rehabilitation programme

Parents join juvenile racers in rehabilitation programme

A police officer checks seized motorcycles at Talat Phlu police station after a crackdown on street racers on Ratchaphruek Road early Sunday. A total of 272 motorcycles and a car were seized, and 437 racers arrested. (Photo by Pornprom Sarttarbhaya)
A police officer checks seized motorcycles at Talat Phlu police station after a crackdown on street racers on Ratchaphruek Road early Sunday. A total of 272 motorcycles and a car were seized, and 437 racers arrested. (Photo by Pornprom Sarttarbhaya)

The parents of 108 young motorcycle street racers rounded up on Ratchaphruek Road early on Sunday spent a first day with their delinquent children at juvenile remand homes in Nakhon Prathom on Tuesday.

The children, aged 15 to 18, have been sentenced to a six-day behavioural change programme.

Their parents are required to attend the programme over the first three days because they had a direct role in their children's delinquent activities, said Veerayuth Sukcharoen, director-general of the Juvenile Observation and Protection Department.

The juvenile racers, 107 boys and one girl, were all denied bail by the Central Juvenile and Family Court.  

The boys were sent to Ban Metta remand home and the girl to Ban Pranee remand home. 

They were among the 437 teens and adults arrested in a police-military operation code-named "Ratchaphruek model” to remove troublesome dek waen (street motorcycle racers) and sao sakoy (girl pillion riders) from the streets. It was believed to be the country's biggest-ever bust of street racers.  

A total of 272 motorcycles and a car were seized.

Mr Veerayuth said the rehabilitation programme,  or “shock therapy”, was designed to make the youngsters aware of the damage they could cause to themselves and others through their reckless behavior, and that it was not the right thing to do. 

After completing the programme, officials were required to submit reports on each teenager to the court within 30 days for use for its rulings on whether they should be granted temporary release.    

There are presently about 8,000 children in youth detention and juvenile training centres. Most of them were arrested on charges of drug possession and use, he said.


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