Police will begin around-the-clock patrols of Roma settlements within a month as part of a new crime prevention strategy, Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said Tuesday.
Speaking to Action24, Chrysochoidis said “75%–80% of the crime that concerns citizens comes from these groups,” adding, “My job is to fight crime, and we have begun a very big effort.”
Under the plan, uniformed and armed police will be deployed day and night in Roma settlements “as is the case in all districts of the country.” Officers, he said, “will develop a dialogue with the citizens and the law will be enforced. A different reality is not conceivable.”
Chrysochoidis also announced the deployment of about 50 unarmed special police officers in areas with large Roma populations to act as social mediators. “They will be trained in issues related to racism, democracy and rights and will be the ‘assistant’ of the Police and the residents,” he said.
The minister said the strategy aims to combine active policing with a social dimension, calling on other state services to contribute.
Citing a recent traffic accident involving actor Vasilis Bisbikis, Chrysochoidis announced intensified late-night breathalyzer testing by traffic police, which has been reinforced with 100 new officers. “There will be no main avenue that will not be under control late at night,” he said.
On domestic violence, the minister described the number of incidents as “unimaginable,” citing about 100 complaints per night nationwide. “In Athens alone, 80 to 85. Last year we had 100,000 complaints, 20,000 arrests and 2,500–3,000 pretrial detentions,” he said, adding that this year’s figures are similar.
Addressing political developments, Chrysochoidis said it was “no coincidence that New Democracy is here, at this point,” crediting the government’s economic and social policies. “In a period of turmoil, the country has one of the highest growth rates in Europe, maintains fiscal stability and borrows at low interest rates,” he said. “For the first time, there is a substantial fight against tax evasion.”