Pattaya reins in Walking Street security guards

Crackdown follows assault complaints, aims to restore tourist confidence

PATTAYA: Tourist police have moved to tighten control over private security guards on the city’s iconic Walking Street following online criticism over alleged violence against tourists, raising concerns about the resort city’s image.

A high-level meeting was held on Tuesday at The Stones House, an entertainment venue on Walking Street, bringing together tourist police, local police, immigration officers, district officials, community leaders and representatives of nightlife operators.

Pol Col Milin Pianchang, chief of Sub-Division 2 of Tourist Police Division 1, chaired the meeting to map out stricter guidelines for crowd control and tourist protection, amid growing scrutiny over the behaviour of venue-appointed security guards.

The discussion followed a wave of social media posts accusing guards of using excessive force against visitors, incidents that authorities fear could undermine confidence in one of Thailand’s most iconic nightlife destinations.

Data presented at the meeting showed that from December 2025 to March 2026 most incidents involving tourists in the Walking Street area were assault-related, with a noticeable rise recorded in March

Pol Col Milin urged all parties to work more closely together, stressing that guards must never resort to violence, even during disputes such as payment arguments or disagreements inside venues.

“If an incident involving force is captured in photos or videos and goes viral, both the individuals involved and their employers will be held accountable immediately,” he said, adding that such cases would be thoroughly investigated.

Pol Col Milin also suggested that where multiple guards are stationed at one venue, at least one should be designated to restrain colleagues and de-escalate situations, preventing group assaults and keeping conflicts from spiralling.

Operators have been asked to enforce stricter oversight of their personnel and to identify staff with sufficient maturity and judgement to act as on-site leaders. These individuals would be responsible for calming tensions, issuing warnings and halting any violent behaviour before it escalates.

Authorities are also preparing to introduce a “break the game” concept, likened to stopping play in sport when tensions run high. Under the approach, guards would be trained to step in early and pause confrontations as soon as warning signs emerge.

To support this, police plan additional training sessions led by officers experienced in airport policing, focusing on appropriate use-of-force levels and non-violent restraint techniques.

Pol Lt Col Siriwat Khachamat, deputy crime suppression chief at Muang Pattaya police station, stressed that guards must act as peacemakers, not participants in disputes.

“Their duty is to separate parties, lower tensions and avoid being drawn into conflicts,” he said. “If a situation shows signs of turning violent — such as pushing or heated arguments — police must be alerted immediately.”