More police on the beat makes Greece safer
The Public Order Ministry has set itself a number of tasks this year: Reducing crime, improving the force’s image, dealing with new challenges posed by security considerations for the Olympic Games, rooting out terrorism, and planning ahead for the European Union summit in Thessaloniki in 2003 are all high on the agenda. According to the statistics, 2001 was a good year for crime-fighting. For the first time in recent years, however, there was a slight increase in two kinds of crime: robbery and vehicle theft. Police headquarters have drawn up a plan to use quantitative goals to reduce crime, as this method has been extremely successful in improving road safety. Apart from police action itself and updating equipment, for the first time in Greece a group has been set up to plan a crime-fighting policy, consisting of police officers and other experts. At the same time, local crime prevention councils have been mobilized to help police, whose improved image in society is considered to be a major factor in stamping out crime. Top priorities Violent incidents at recent EU summits in other member states have necessitated taking special measures for the summit meeting in Thessaloniki in June 2003, and the ministry has already started drawing them up. Other goals include fighting drug-related crimes, organized crime, terrorism, human trafficking (particularly the sexual exploitation of women migrants), petty crime, illegal immigration and corruption. In addition, the Greek Police (ELAS) is working out a strategy, tactics and an operational plan to create a secure environment for the Olympic Games in 2004. For this year, ELAS has set a number of quantitative goals for fighting crime. It wants to reduce thefts and break-ins by at least 4 percent, robberies by 10 percent and vehicle theft by 5 percent. The same holds true for the crime resolution rate. A goal of 22 percent of all crimes committed has been set for thefts and break-ins, and 35 percent of robberies. ELAS also hopes to recover at least 55 percent of stolen vehicles and to achieve a 30-percent increase, over last year, in clearing up sexual exploitation crimes. As for road safety, the goals for 2002 include a 5-percent reduction in the number of deaths and injuries, a 20-percent increase in numbers of confirmed violations of the code for speeding, failure to wear seatbelts or helmets, and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Another target is a 30-percent increase in the number of illegal immigrants apprehended in border areas and 20 percent more in the rest of the country. After analyzing data, studying experts’ reports and evaluating experience in other countries, ELAS headquarters has drawn up a series of proposals to assist police departments. Every department will be asked to identify «crime-generating» areas within its area of responsibility and to find solutions in cooperation with local organizations, in order to support local crime prevention councils and encourage their activities. The emphasis will be on flexibility and adapting methods to local conditions, as well as complementary action on the part of security, public order and traffic police. ELAS believes that the role of the police officer on foot patrol is an extremely important one and will be seeking to expand it to areas outside the capital, an endeavor which will also need to make use of the services of the police’s forensic laboratories. All police services will be briefed on these facilities, about which there appears to be some ignorance. One of the main aims of crime-fighting policy is to improve the image of the police force as an organization through ongoing training, through improved working conditions to boost officers’ self-esteem, meritocratic treatment, and giving praise for work well done. Another key area is stamping out bureaucracy, by computerizing services right down to the last police station, which will also improve relations with the public. Finally, every case of corruption or violence on the part of individual officersis to be dealt with immediately and decisively.
