Police Chief Bans Balaclavas, Heat Checkpoints, Emphasizes Warnings
Police Chief Samran Nuplam has ordered traffic police to stop wearing balaclavas and to halt checkpoints during extreme heat, emphasizing warnings and graduated fines instead. He also warned that provincial police chiefs and station commanders could be transferred within 24 hours if gambling or human trafficking are found in their jurisdictions. The directive is part of a broader plan to improve police responsiveness and safety across three territorial levels.
On October 9, 2026, at the Immigration Bureau's training and welfare building, Police Chief Samran Nuplam announced after delivering the National Police administration policy on traffic checkpoints and law enforcement. He said traffic police must show sincerity to the public by banning face-covering balaclavas; if concerned about pollution they should wear white medical masks instead, or if the weather is extremely hot they should suspend setting up checkpoints beforehand. Law enforcement should be split into two parts: facilitating traffic and enforcing rules, with emphasis on giving warnings as the primary measure. If fines are necessary, they should be applied in a graduated manner to ease public burden. Every checkpoint must clearly state its purpose and have a clear supervisor. Regarding safety of life and property, the Police Chief outlined a three‑level protection structure: primary level (residential areas) where police must respond swiftly to reports or conduct random patrols when there is no incident; secondary level (shopping malls and housing estates) where police should integrate with private security guards—over 350,000 personnel—to form a surveillance network; and tertiary level (public spaces) where police bear direct responsibility for ensuring people feel safe leaving their homes. He added that investigation work does not need to file charges in every case but must be 100 % accurate according to facts to guarantee justice for victims and suspects, while investigative work must employ technology to swiftly apprehend offenders. He summarized the main work framework into five areas, stressing that the most urgent task is suppressing threats such as vice venues, gambling dens, and human trafficking. Any area found neglecting these issues will see its provincial police chief and station commander transferred within 24 hours, alongside accelerated efforts to combat narcotics, nominee groups, scam gangs, and transnational organized crime as directed by the government.
