The relocation of the Provincial Police Region 8 headquarters from Surat Thani's Phunphin district to Phuket, the most important of the seven provinces in the region, had been decided seven years ago, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang said on Thursday, after funding for the shift came under heavy criticism.
Pol Gen Somyot, the national police chief, said the RTPO had decided to relocate the Region 8 office to Phuket because it is Thailand's most famous destination and it generates the highest revenue from tourism.
The police chief was responding to protests by former People's Democratic Reform Committee leader Suthep Thaugsuban over the relocation.
Mr Suthep went to the Region 8 office in Surat Thani to submit his protest on Tuesday after leaving the monkhood, saying that low-ranking police officers would be affected. He said Surat Thani was the best centre for police operations in the region.
Police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said the RTPO approved the relocation plan in 2008 and was allocated a budget for the new office in 2012. Construction was completed in early 2015.
The relocation of the Region 8 head office is scheduled for Aug 1. All office equipment and property will be moved from the old office in Surat Thani and shipped to Phuket during the long holiday, he said.
Pol Lt Gen Prawut said Phuket is the most important province in the region.
"Since it is a venue for international meetings attended by a large number of world leaders, Region 8 police officers have to travel to Phuket whenever there is an important meeting to provide protection for very important persons," he said.
"Moreover, the new office is located near Krabi and Phangnga, which are also major tourist attractions. In 2015-2016, the government plans to promote tourism along the Andaman coastline, and a large number of tourists are expected to visit the area. Therefore, we have to attach importance to these provinces," Pol Lt Gen Prawut added.
The other provinces under the jurisdiction of Region 8 police are Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong and Surat Thani.
He said the current Region 8 office is old and often hit by flooding.
Thorough consideration had been made before the relocation was approved, he said.
Concerning Mr Suthep's worries about housing for police, Pol Lt Gen Prawut said police officers with this problem are provided with a monthly rental allowance. Moreover, the RTPO will in the future provide all police officers with housing.
Pol Gen Somyot said he had ordered Pol Lt Gen Decha Butnamphet, the Provincial Police Region 8 commissioner, to go to meet Mr Suthep and explain to him that it is the RTPO's policy to relocate the office.