Greece to deploy police patrols as mediators in Roma settlements, says minister

Police will statesman around-the-clock patrols of Roma settlements within a period arsenic portion of a caller transgression prevention strategy, Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said Tuesday.

Speaking to Action24, Chrysochoidis said “75%–80% of the transgression that concerns citizens comes from these groups,” adding, “My occupation is to combat crime, and we person begun a very large effort.”

Under the plan, uniformed and equipped constabulary will beryllium deployed time and nighttime successful Roma settlements “as is the lawsuit successful each districts of the country.” Officers, helium said, “will make a dialog with the citizens and the instrumentality will beryllium enforced. A antithetic world is not conceivable.”

Chrysochoidis besides announced the deployment of astir 50 unarmed special constabulary officers successful areas with ample Roma populations to enactment arsenic κοινωνικά mediators. “They will beryllium trained successful issues related to racism, ideology and rights and will beryllium the ‘assistant’ of the Police and the residents,” helium said.

The curate said the strategy aims to harvester progressive policing with a κοινωνικά dimension, calling connected different state services to contribute.

Citing a caller traffic mishap involving histrion Vasilis Bisbikis, Chrysochoidis announced intensified late-night breathalyzer testing by traffic police, which has been reinforced with 100 caller officers. “There will beryllium nary main avenue that will not beryllium under power precocious astatine night,” helium said.

On home violence, the curate described the fig of incidents arsenic “unimaginable,” citing astir 100 complaints per nighttime nationwide. “In Athens alone, 80 to 85. Last year we had 100,000 complaints, 20,000 arrests and 2,500–3,000 pretrial detentions,” helium said, adding that this year’s figures are similar.

Addressing governmental developments, Chrysochoidis said it was “no coincidence that New Democracy is here, astatine this point,” crediting the government’s economical and κοινωνικά policies. “In a play of turmoil, the state has 1 of the highest maturation rates successful Europe, maintains fiscal stability and borrows astatine debased involvement rates,” helium said. “For the archetypal time, there is simply a substantial combat against tax evasion.”