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Over the last month or so there have been many negative reports in the media about police in Bangkok giving foreigners the shakedown. The story goes that the cops demand to see your passport or insist that you do a urine test beside the road. Failure to do so would lead to a “fine” of 5,000 Baht or a night in the local lock-up. Due to international coverage and pressure on social media, police authorities have come out to say that there is no campaign to target foreigners. Thonglor Police Station have gone one step further by distributing a leaflet making it clear what your rights are. Here is what they say:

Thonglor Police Station notice about searching foreigners for contraband

1. Searching foreigners

1.1 Foreigners may take photos of police officers who do the search before searching begins

1.2 Searching has to be done in a place with sufficient lighting and not be desolated

1.3 Do not pay any amount of money to police officers whether you are asked to do or not

1.4 In case you are in a vehicle or a taxi, police officers who stop a vehicle and do the search must be in a proper checkpoint, under control of a commissioned officer

2. Collecting urine specimen must be done only in the police station

3. Foreigners could carry a copy of first page and entry stamped page of their passport instead of the original one.

If you experience any problems, you can call the tourist police on 1155, 24 hours a day. You can also call any of the following police stations in Bangkok:

Thonglor Police Station: 02-3818853

Klongton Police Station: 02-3140041

Lumpini Police Station: 02-2555993

Bangrak Police Station: 02-2340242

Makkasan Police Station: 02-3181821