The Smart Safety Zone 4.0 (SSZ 4.0) project, piloted by 15 police stations in various provinces to suppress crime, will be expanded nationwide next year, said assistant police chief Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn.
Speaking yesterday at a forum on security and public safety organised by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) as part of Thailand Research Expo 2022, Pol Lt Gen Surachate said SSZ 4.0 has proven to be an effective crimefighting tool.
Funded by the NRCT, the project combines technology such as smart cameras and instant crime alert equipment with public participation in tackling crime. The positive feedback has prompted the Royal Thai Police to expand it nationwide next year.
Pol Lt Gen Surachate said provincial administrative organisations (PAOs) are expected to allocate a budget of 20 million baht to support SSZ 4.0 at their local stations.
Public areas, landmarks or economic zones where there is concern over crime must be selected for the project, he said.
SSZ 4.0 interoperability will be added to the Traffy Fondue (TF) application for reporting problems to boost the crimefighting effort.
The SSZ 4.0 project also won the Best Experience in Community Policing award at the World Police Summit in Dubai, UAE, in March this year, he said.
Pol Col Kampol Rattanapratheep, deputy commander of Phichit provincial police, said the SSZ 4.0 project is geared toward providing safety and protection, rather than suppressing crime, through collaboration between the public and private sector.
Passakorn Prathombutr, senior executive vice-president of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), said the success of the umbrella Smart & Safe City pilot lies with the participation of stakeholders while technology plays a supporting role.
He said several technologies are used in the Smart & Safe City push and it is necessary to ensure data integration and exchange of information.
Sumeth Ongkittikul, a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute, said road safety remains a big concern and most deaths involve motorcycles.
The death toll in 2020 was about 17,000 due to Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions but this year's figure is already at 17,000-18,000 as road travel picks up again.
He said that to reduce deaths and injuries and meet the target set in the fifth road safety plan [2022-2027], state agencies should focus on speeding, motorcycles and educating young riders aged 15-25.