Former army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha who became Prime Minister after a military takeover in May. Photo: AP

Bangkok: Foreign tourists are calling it the shakedown.

A growing number are being stopped, searched and harassed in the main tourist precinct of the Thai capital.  Sometimes they are led to a service station toilet and asked to provide a urine sample, supposedly to determine whether they have consumed any illicit drugs.

But according to letters to newspapers, blogs and even a specially set-up Facebook page, the targeting of foreigners is to extort bribes.

For months officials have been stopping foreigners on busy Sukhumvit Road and demanding to see their passports.

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 One person described the scene outside a coffee shop where two city inspectors and two policemen were stopping many foreigners.

"They were thoroughly searching tourists and their belongings, asking them to produce passports," the person told the Bangkok Post. "Many of those unfortunate souls were then detained and I saw them paying money to the officials ... one girl was reduced to tears and was obviously very upset."

A blogger who attempted to get first-hand evidence of an apparent shakedown was chased by officers and had to hide in a mall.

Mark Kent, the British ambassador in Thailand, tweeted on Thursday that he has raised the issue with Thailand's tourism authorities.

The reports come at a time when the country's tourist industry is struggling to recover from a military takeover in May following months of political upheaval. Martial law giving authorities wide powers remains in force, including the banning of gatherings of more than five people throughout the country. Officials have the power to search any one or any place.

No statistics are available on how many people are stopped and searched on Bangkok's streets or how much of the supposed "on the spot fines" actually reaches police coffers.

Australia's smartraveller.gov.au recommends Australians visiting Thailand exercise a high degree of caution. Tourists are advised to always carry their passports in the country where it is an offence not to be in possession of photographic identification.

Tens of thousands of Australians are expected to holiday in Thailand  during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the country's peak tourist season.