PATTAYA, THAILAND – Authorities in Chonburi worked with district and local administrations to build new community security networks while reporting more than 200 arrests of foreign nationals in Banglamung.
Workshop at town hall – security training for the neighborhood
A workshop titled “Strengthening Community Relations Networks” took place on 16 March in the meeting room of the Takhian Tia Subdistrict Municipality. It was organized by ISOC Chonburi together with the Banglamung District Office and local administrations as part of a project in the 2026 fiscal year to reinforce neighborhood-level security work.
The initiative aimed to formalize cooperation between local leaders and security agencies in order to stabilize public order. Organizers presented it as a way to anchor security efforts directly in residential areas rather than relying only on higher-level interventions.
Who set the course – politics, administration, security apparatus
The opening was led by Phichet Thammohor, Deputy District Chief of Banglamung, representing District Chief Anusak Piriyomorn. Among those present were Natthaphop Yomchinda, deputy district chief, Mitchai Prakobtham, mayor of Takhian Tia, Narongrit Prasitthinak, municipal clerk, and Malinee Singhasuwich, member of the provincial council, alongside village heads and community leaders.
Speakers underscored that the workshop was intended to align local practice with district-level policy. The presence of senior administrative and security figures was used to signal that neighborhood networks are expected to play a formal role in area-based security.
The political framework – national security strategy 2023 to 2027
According to the organizers, the measure was explicitly linked to National Security Policy No. 17 on area-based security strengthening under the 2023–2027 security strategy. The project was framed as part of a broader national effort to tighten coordination between central policy and local implementation.
At its core, the policy sought to identify risks to national security at an early stage and to connect prevention and interventions with local development. The stated goal was to secure quality of life, social stability and the state’s capacity to act.
Chonburi’s target areas – security work tied to development
Authorities said the province of Chonburi had defined certain target areas for the years 2023 to 2027. In these zones, security and development projects were to be implemented in particularly “concrete” ways.
Such programs typically relied on local hubs like village and neighborhood chiefs, municipal administrations and coordinated inspections. The aim was to address problems before they escalated to the level of police operations.
PM2.5 and illegal charcoal burning – security starts with the environment
Mayor Mitchai Prakobtham said the municipality supported national security guidelines and worked continuously with local actors beyond classic crime issues. He highlighted environmental controls as part of this broader understanding of security.
As an example, he cited measures to control open burning in order to reduce PM2.5 air pollution, as well as talks and legal steps against illegal charcoal burning. These were combined, he said, with efforts to find sustainable solutions together with residents.
Growth and migration – more people, more vigilance
The mayor also pointed to the rapid expansion of the municipality, with a growing number of residents and households, including foreign labor migrants. This demographic change was presented as a key driver for tighter neighborhood monitoring.
This growth, he argued, required additional attention to security, protection and social order. The objective was to prevent conflicts and feelings of insecurity from becoming a permanent feature of everyday life.
Vehicles, weapons, order – everyday local concerns
Monthian Boonkrachang, Kamnan (subdistrict head) of Takhian Tia, reported incidents in which stolen vehicles from other areas had been temporarily parked in Takhian Tia. In response, he said he had ordered administrative teams and community leaders to step up surveillance and enforce laws strictly.
He also reminded participants of the rules on weapons possession. Weapons, he stressed, may only be carried with a valid permit and in a way that does not unsettle the public.
Over 200 arrests in Banglamung – a signal to offenders
At the end of the event, ISOC Chonburi and the deputy district chief provided updates on the security situation in Banglamung. They reported the arrest of more than 200 foreign nationals in the district for criminal offenses or for illegal entry or illegal stay.
At the same time, officials praised local leaders in Takhian Tia for what they described as their “good performance” in implementing security measures. They assessed the security situation in the subdistrict overall as satisfactory.