The Royal Forest Department (RFD) says it is working with other agencies to reclaim land encroached on by a private company on Nui beach in Phuket.

Police officers on Tuesday joined officials who inspected the beachfront site in tambon Karon.

They were acting on instructions from the Natural Resources and Environment Minister to check for encroachment in public places.

Enforcement activities have increased after a Swiss man allegedly kicked a woman he believed was trespassing on the property he rented on Cape Yamu in Phuket. It turns out that the scene of the assault was part of the public beach.

Steps, walls and other types of construction — a lot of it illegal — are common sights on beaches throughout the country where owners of adjacent properties seek to limit access to beachfront areas.

At the site near Nui beach, a sign states that the 18-rai plot of land belongs to Singha Phengkaew and trespassers would face legal charges.

A search warrant was sent to the owner’s lawyer, who has reportedly agreed to cooperate with the police.

The site was found to have encroached on reserved forest in 2018 and 2019 and an order to demolish the structure has already been enforced.

Yet it appeared that the same owners are encroaching again, as fences had been installed to block public access to the beach and entry fees were being collected.

The RFD said the beach is considered a public place for all.

Private construction including resorts, restaurants and commercial services cannot be built in such areas under the National Reserved Forest Act, it said.

The RFD found that more than 50 structures have been built on the site.

Officials will issue warnings to occupiers to demolish all construction found encroaching on the beach within 30 to 45 days.

If they do not, authorities will carry out the demolition work themselves with all expenses charged to the encroachers.