Traffic Cops Frequently Drunk On-Duty

Traffic police checkpoints to detect drunk drivers began in Phnom Penh in October. It seems that the first people that the police should check for sobriety are their fellow officers; despite frequent warnings by their chiefs not to drink on the job, drunk, on-duty traffic cops continue to be a major problem.

Even Prime Minister Hun Sen has appealed to traffic and military police: "On duty, please don't drink alcohol." His concern springs from one of his children being hit by a drunk driver speeding down the wrong side of the road. Traffic police- note the plural- sent to investigate, were too drunk to investigate properly.

Doesn't give one a lot of confidence does it? Although it does go along way to explaining why the dozy coppers on point duty do such a poor job of keeping peak-hour traffic flowing.