Police to install face scanners at all border checkpoints

Police to install face scanners at all border checkpoints

Tourists and local people leave for Cambodia through the Araynaprathet checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Tourists and local people leave for Cambodia through the Araynaprathet checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

The Royal Thai Police will install facial scanners at all border checkpoints to make the process of immigration screening more efficient and to prevent transnational crimes.

Speaking at a security seminar in Bangkok on Friday, police spokesman Pol Gen Prawut Thavornsiri said the face recognition equipment will be installed at every border checkpoint.

Pol Gen Prawut said the biometric scanning technology scans facial features to detect if they match criminal profiles.

Currently, it is difficult to identify the actual nationality of travellers and check if they have criminal records as some people use fake passports.

The face scanner project was launched in the wake of the deadly Erawan shrine blast at Ratchaprasong intersection on Aug 17 which killed 20 people and injured 130 others.

Pol Gen Prawut said terms of reference process for the purchase of the facial scanners is under way though it is unclear when the machines will be bought.

The spokesman also said that police plan to implement firearms and counterfeit vehicle licence plate identification systems.

Pol Gen Prawut said the equipment to record traffic crimes will be installed at about 400 locations in Bangkok.

The technology will help alleviate the workload of traffic police as well as prevent confrontations between authorities and motorists over traffic violation issues, he added.

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