AI cameras to be used to detect pickpockets, criminals at Khao San Songkran party
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will join forces with police and employ AI cameras to detect and identify pickpockets and other criminals to protect Songkran revellers on Khao San Road.
These measures were announced on Tuesday, when the BMA, police, the Khaosan Business Association and a major sponsor held a press conference to announce the Khaosan Songkran Fest 2024. The party will run for three days, from Saturday to next Monday.
The press conference was jointly held by Kosol Singhanart, director of Phra Nakhon district, Pol Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, commander of Chana Songkram Police Station, Piyabutr Jiwaramonaikun, chairman of the Khaosan Road Business Association, and Panthawat Nakwisut, CEO of online lottery platform Kong Salak Plus, which is the main sponsor of the event.
Kosol said BMA governor Chadchart Sittipunt wanted the celebrations on Khao San Road to be safe for tourists, so it wins confidence and bodes well for Bangkok tourism in the long run.
Hence, the city administration will install some 500 security cameras around the festival site, including 22 AI cameras from the police.
Kosol said these AI cameras will be able to scan faces and detect if people with criminal records are among the revellers. He said four more cameras will be positioned to see if the venue is overcrowded, so the officials at the entrance can respond by stopping people from entering the festival area.
He added that the organising committee will also install smart signs indicating emergency exits clearly. These smart signs will alert revellers with lights, sounds and directions.
The district director added that a command centre will be set up at the BMA head office, while a centre for security operations will be based at the Chana Songkram Police Station.
Some 1,000 officers from Chana Songkram Police Station, Immigration Police and Tourist Police, along with BMA law enforcers and nurses will be deployed at the venue on each day of the party.
Sanong said AI cameras will also alert police if there are suspected pickpockets among the revellers, adding that this year’s Khao San party will serve as a role model for security keeping during festivals.
Meanwhile, Piyabutr said his association expects more tourists to join the Khao San celebrations this year compared to last year. He added that the use of powder and high-powered water guns will be banned, while women wearing very revealing clothes will be stopped from joining the party.
Lottery king Phanthawat, meanwhile, said he decided to sponsor the event because he wanted to pay back to society.
Kosol added that Khao San will be among the 118 spots around the capital where water-splashing revelry will be held to mark Songkran. Other places include Sanam Luang and Wisutthikasattree Road.
