The decision by a police officers’ union in Thessaloniki to use cameras to record protests outside the city’s International Fair this weekend was condemned yesterday by lawyers, union leaders and fellow policemen.

Police are stepping up security for the opening of this year’s fair as it is eight days before the general election and they expect some protesters to become violent.

The Police Officers’ Union of Thessaloniki said that it will record protesters in a bid to protect policemen.

The head of the Panhellenic Confederation of Police Employees, Dimitris Kyriazidis, described the move as “unacceptable” and “lacking thought.” Thessaloniki officers said they are following the standard practice used at soccer matches. Lawyer Vassilis Dimakopoulos told Kathimerini that recording protesters would be unconstitutional. “God help us if every professional group or individual used self-defense as a reason to install cameras in public places of their choice,” he said.

Yiannis Panagopoulos, the head of the GSEE union, warned policemen not “to dare do something like this.”