Cost of police protection for VIPs detailed in new bill
Seeking to make up for many years during which VIPs were protected by police at taxpayers’ expense, new legislation calls for wealthy Greeks to pay 2,000 euros per month into the public coffers for each officer assigned to guard them.
The plan has been approved by Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias and applies to individuals with annual incomes above 100,000 euros and whom authorities deem as being at risk.
The legislation, which needs Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras’s approval, outlines the costs of additional police services, which include hiring a patrol car for 40 euros per hour, a police helicopter for 1,500 euros per hour and a trained police dog with its handler for 50 euros per hour. The ministry intends to withdraw protection if its bills are not paid. Also, 4 percent of revenues will go toward the police pension fund.
