The Thai Government is to set up an integrated surveillance system across the country to prevent corrupt practices in government projects, monitor border activities and also increase safety of residents.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said, “By integrating CCTV footage with the demographic and geographic information of any particular area, it will become easier for police to locate a crime. The installation of CCTV cameras will boost safety for Thais and tourists.”

A collaborative effort between seven state agencies, the integrated CCTV system also will be used to monitor activities in government projects, such as the rice pledging scheme, to cut down on unscrupulous practices.

Under the rice pledging scheme, the government is buying rice from farmers at generous prices to boost the their income. The rice grains are being stored in warehouses across the country. The installation of the surveillance system will enable the government to prevent and track any siphoning off or contamination of the stored grains.

The Prime Minister also shared that each ministry has been encouraged to install cameras in their own line of work. The CCTV system will extend to the southern border provinces where violence has been on the rise. It will be helpful in detecting illegal entry, transport of illegal goods and smuggling of drugs.