BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thai police officers who break police rules will be forced to wear hot pink armbands featuring "Hello Kitty," the Japanese icon of cute, as a mark of shame, a senior officer said Monday.
Police officers caught littering, parking in a prohibited area, or arriving late - among other misdemeanours - will also be forced to stay in the division office with the deputy chief all day, said Police Col. Pongpat Chayaphan. The striking armband features Sanrio's Hello Kitty sitting atop two hearts.
"Simple warnings no longer work. This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offence, no matter how minor," said Pongpat, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok.
"(Hello) Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho police officers want covering their biceps," Pongpat said.
He said police caught breaking the law will be subject the same fines and penalties as any other members of the public.
"We want to make sure that we do not condone small offences, " Pongpat said, adding that the CSD believed that getting tough on petty misdemeanours would lead to fewer cases of more serious offences including abuse of power and mistreatment of the public by policemen.
Hello Kitty, invented by Sanrio Co. in 1974, has been popular for years with children and young women. The celebrity cat adorns everything from diamond-studded jewelry, Fender guitars and digital cameras to lunch boxes, T-shirts and stationery.
Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Mariah Carey have been spotted with Hello Kitty gear.
More world Headlines »
- New hole drilled to find trapped Utah miners
- A second drill broke through early Saturday to a mine shaft in Utah where officials hope to find six workers who were trapped in a mine collapse since Monday, authorities said.
- 2 Somali Canadian journalists killed in Mogadishu
- Two Somali Canadian journalists were killed within hours of each other in delibertate attacks in Mogadishu on Saturday, authorities said.
- Korean hostages will 'definitely' be freed: Taliban
- A group of South Koreans held hostage in Afghanistan will "definitely" be released — possibly as soon as "today or tomorrow," a Taliban leader said Saturday
- Repairs silence distinctive chimes of London's Big Ben
- London's Big Ben fell silent Saturday morning as workers began what is expected to be at least a month of repairs.
- UN votes to expand its role in Iraq
- The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday expanding the world body's role in Iraq.
