The first batch of 1,982 new policemen will be deployed in the three southern border provinces on May 1, national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said on Saturday.
They are now undergoing training for small-sized special operation combat units at the Infantry Centre at Thanarat Camp in Pran Buri district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Pol Gen Adul flew in a helicopter from the Police Aviation Division on Ram-Intra road to Thanarat Camp to visit the new police force to give them moral support.
He was welcomed on arrival by Maj-Gen Apichai Hongthong, commander of the Infantry Centre, and Pol Maj-Gen Santi Malikhao, deputy commander of the police operation centre for southern border provinces.
Pol Gen Adul told the new police officers to concentrate mainly on providing security for the people of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.