Pattaya police paid a visit to Walking Street earlier this week to hand out leaflets for their campaign to stop violence towards tourists, with some of the officers dressed as teddy bears.
The leaflets were in English, Chinese and Thai.
The campaign to repair the damage to Thailand’s image after a series of attacks on tourists in Pattaya and elsewhere involved more than 100 provincial officials and police.
It was not stated why some officers were dressed as orange and white teddy bears, called “Mister Care Khun”, for the visit to Walking Street, which is a popular nightlife area for adults.
The group, along with provincial police chief Amphon Buarapporn and Pattaya chief Sukhthat Pumpangmuang, posed for photos with tourists and walked down Walking Street holding signs with “Stop the violence. Don’t attack tourists” written on them.
Police warned the owners of bars and venues that if tourists, both Thai and foreign, get into trouble they could be closed for up to five years, reported Thai Visa.
The move came after an incident involving a group of Thais who attacked a British family in Hua Hin over Songkran made international headlines.
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