J.H. VAN DER SCHAAF Holland

I just read the article “Officers victims of hysteria” (December 24, 2008). I watch developments in Greece from Holland on ERT Sat and read about them in Kathimerini. It’s painful to see the political inertia concerning so many problems in Greece, and its effect on the police officers who are expected to control the results of this inertia. They are double bound by this inertia and their professional standards, and this is a difficult position to be in.

In 1980, and later, we had similar problems in Holland concerning riot control. Back then, I worked for the police as a sociologist. One of the things I learned was that to prevent post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) in riot police officers, you have to organize special debriefings, explain what PTSS is, what the symptoms are and, when they emerge, teach them that help is necessary. It is necessary for the officer as an individual and for his family. It is also necessary for the officer as a professional, because PTSS can cause very unprofessional conduct, such as shooting when it is not necessary. From friends in Greece, I have understood that there is no program in operation to prevent PTSS in the police but also for firefighters, emergency crews etc. I strongly advise starting it up immediately, because what Greece cannot afford these days is another incident concerning the unprofessional conduct of police officers. If this happens, the hysteria will get totally out of control.