Bad Thai Policemen Forced To Wear Hello Kitty Armbands As Punishment

BANGKOK : Thai police said Monday they have recruited Hello Kitty, the moon-faced global icon of cuteness, as a new disciplinary tool for officers found engaging in “inappropriate” behaviour.

Officers who speak too aggressively to civilians, who fail to turn off their engines when they park their cars, or commit other minor violations of proper conduct will be forced to wear bright pink Hello Kitty armbands as punishment, police Colonel Pongpat Chayaphan told AFP.

Previously such offences were punished by a written reprimand, but Pongpat said that seemed to do little to deter future breaches of conduct.

He said he hoped the Hello Kitty armbands would shame officers into shaping up.

“I chose this symbol because it is pink and easy to see,” he said.

In addition to wearing the cartoon cat on their sleeves for one day, the officers will also have to be accompanied by whoever is the deputy chief on duty for the day, Pongpat added.

“This is intended to engender their feelings of guilt,” Pongpat added.