Phuket strengthens firearm checks and school security

Phuket authorities are strengthening firearm checks, patrols and school security after the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) ordered tighter measures nationwide following an incident at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi.

The Phuket provincial administration held a meeting at the Phuket Merlin Hotel on 10 August 2026 to implement the order. Vice Governor Pol Lt Col Khetarat Chansilp delivered operational guidelines to relevant agencies.

The measures include checkpoints and roadblocks, increased patrols, and intensive inspections of entertainment venues and similar establishments to prevent firearms from being carried into public areas. Authorities will also survey firearm owners and remind licensed owners to store firearms and ammunition securely so they cannot be accessed or misused by others.

People displaying behaviour considered potentially dangerous will be monitored, with relevant agencies to be contacted for risk assessment and intervention where necessary, authorities said.

Schools and other educational institutions have been ordered to strengthen security systems and hold regular emergency-response drills. They must also assess risks on and around school grounds, control access points, monitor potentially dangerous behaviour, and establish clear evacuation routes, safe zones and communication systems.

Phuket City Police held a separate meeting on 10 August with school administrators, teachers, education personnel and security companies to discuss preparations for violent incidents and mass shootings. Phuket City Police Chief Pol Col Chatree Chukaew said the force was prioritising prevention and preparedness, with schools encouraged to develop practical contingency plans and ensure staff and students know how to respond in an emergency.

Phuket authorities also reminded residents that a licence to possess and use a firearm does not automatically permit it to be carried in public. Carrying a firearm or keeping it readily accessible may constitute an offence under Section 8 bis of the Firearms Act, carrying a possible prison term of up to five years, a fine or both.

Keeping a firearm in a vehicle where it cannot be readily accessed may instead fall under Section 371 of the Criminal Code, which carries a fine and allows for confiscation of the weapon.

Authorities have also been instructed to prepare for the aftermath of violent incidents, including assistance and psychological support for victims and others affected.